Home · Cyprinidae · Spinous gudgeon
Spinous gudgeon (Paraleucogobio notacanthus) — Cyprinidae

Spinous gudgeon

Paraleucogobio notacanthus
Family: Cyprinidae

The Spinous gudgeon (Paraleucogobio notacanthus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
10.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: China

Want the complete picture on the Spinous gudgeon?

Get the app

Description

The spinous gudgeon is a cyprinid (Cyprinidae) from fresh water of East Asia. The species grows to about 10 cm and has an elongate, silver-grey body with an inferior mouth and short barbels. As a bottom-oriented fish it lives in calm parts of rivers and lakes and searches among sand and mud for insect larvae, worms and plant matter. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Spinous gudgeon?

The Spinous gudgeon has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Spinous gudgeon live?

The Spinous gudgeon lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: China

How big does the Spinous gudgeon get?

The Spinous gudgeon grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Spinous gudgeon dangerous to humans?

No, the Spinous gudgeon 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.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Spinous gudgeon?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Spinous gudgeon is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Spinous gudgeon sourced
Scientific name
Paraleucogobio notacanthus
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Asia: China sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
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

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. 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

More from the family Cyprinidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Spinous gudgeon?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Spinous gudgeon is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Spinous gudgeon? Get the app