Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 33488); depth range 5 - 20 m (Ref. 6898). Tropical; 22°C - 26°C (Ref. 2059); 24°N - 12°N, 98°E - 108°E
Asia: Mekong, Chao Phraya, Nam Theun, Xe Bangfai and the Nanpangjiang basins; also from the Red River (China and Viet Nam).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 55.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 37769); common length : 15.2 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 35840); max. published weight: 1.5 kg (Ref. 128592)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 15; Vertebrae: 34 - 38. Has 37-43 scales on the lateral line (including those on base of caudal-fin); 7-8+1/2 scale rows between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin (Ref. 27732). Differs from all other species of the genus in having more or less discrete marks on each scale on the upper, middle, and sometimes lower parts of the body. Such marks, visible in most freshly caught and recently preserved specimens, are sometimes intensely developed, giving the fish a markedly reticulated appearance. C. molitorella often has a very intense humeral mark which is vivid bluish-green in life. In other Cirrhinus the humeral marks are black or bluish black (Ref. 33488). Usually a conspicuous black bar shortly behind pectoral base (Ref. 43281). Gill rakers on the lower arm of first arch 65-85 (Ref. 12693).
Known from midwater to bottom depths of large and medium-sized rivers. Move into flooded forests during the rainy season and grazes on algae, phytoplankton and detritus (Ref. 12693). Occur in rapids and slow deep reaches (Ref. 37769). Reported to be omnivorous (Ref. 33813). Wild stocks are strongly migratory while the cultivated stocks probably have lost the migratory behavior (Ref. 33488). Prefer flowing water and not known to proliferate in impoundments. Large fish are marketed fresh, smaller ones are used to make prahoc (Ref. 12693). Attain at least 40 cm SL (Ref. 33488).
Assuming standard cyprinid mode of reproduction. Replace ASAP.
Roberts, T.R., 1997. Systematic revision of the tropical Asian labeon cyprinid fish genus Cirrhinus, with descriptions of new species and biological observations on C. lobatus. Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 45:171-203. (Ref. 33488)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5005 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00933 (0.00796 - 0.01094), b=3.05 (3.01 - 3.09), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.00 se; based on food items.
Generation time: 9.4 ( na - na) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 1
growth studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=3; K=0.12; Fec=100,000-204,000).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (42 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 199 [104, 403] mg/100g; Iron = 1.44 [0.71, 2.74] mg/100g; Protein = 17 [16, 18] %; Omega3 = 0.387 [0.153, 1.082] g/100g; Selenium = 192 [71, 449] μg/100g; VitaminA = 26.7 [10.8, 69.9] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.99 [0.51, 1.77] mg/100g (wet weight); based on
nutrient studies.
