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Sharpmouth river carp (Paralaubuca typus) — Cyprinidae

Sharpmouth river carp

Paralaubuca typus
Family: Cyprinidae

The Sharpmouth river carp (Paralaubuca typus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Viet Nam, Thailand
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Sharpmouth river carp is a cyprinid relative (Xenocyprididae) from fresh water of the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins in Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a slender, strongly laterally compressed, bright-silvery body with a keeled belly and a superior mouth. As a fast, schooling surface fish it swims in rivers and floodplains and snaps at insects falling on the water, larvae and small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Sharpmouth river carp?

The Sharpmouth river carp has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Sharpmouth river carp live?

The Sharpmouth river carp lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water. Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Viet Nam, Thailand

How big does the Sharpmouth river carp get?

The Sharpmouth river carp grows to a maximum of about 18 cm.

Is the Sharpmouth river carp dangerous to humans?

No, the Sharpmouth river carp is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Sharpmouth river carp edible?

Yes, the Sharpmouth river carp is commonly eaten.

More photos

Sharpmouth river carp (Paralaubuca typus) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Jiayuan Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Sharpmouth river carp (Paralaubuca typus) — Cyprinidae — 3
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — UF
Sharpmouth river carp (Paralaubuca typus) — Cyprinidae — 4
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — UF
Sharpmouth river carp (Paralaubuca typus) — Cyprinidae — 5
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — UF
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Sharpmouth river carp sourced
Scientific name
Paralaubuca typus
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Viet Nam, Thailand sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Can be caught with natural bait or lures, matched to the size and habitat of the species. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Paralaubuca

More from the family Cyprinidae

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