Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Tanichthyidae (Mountain minnows)
Etymology: Tanichthys: Named for Mr Tan Kam Fei, the famous Scout of Kwangtung; for his interest in ichthyology and encouraging the young scouts toward the study of nature.
Eponymy: Tan Kam Fei was a Chinese boy-scout leader who discovered and collected the first specimens of the minnows (1932) and brought them to the attention of the author. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 19. Tropical; 18°C - 22°C (Ref. 1672); 24°N - 18°N, 104°E - 121°E (Ref. 85799)
Asia: China (Ref. 1739) and Viet Nam (Ref. 44416). Thought to be extinct in the wild (Ref. 89952). Introduced elsewhere.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 4.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5258); common length : 2.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 35840)
Dorsal spines (total): 2 - 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6 - 7; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 9. Body green, with golden vertical zones on central axis of body and a number of dark lines above zones; dorsal and anal fins green and transparent edge; base of caudal fin with large red round spots. Snout blunt; lip thin and lower jaw a bit protruded; barbel absent; dorsal fin short and opposite anal fin, pectoral and pelvic fins small; pelvic scute absent (Ref. 45563).
Found in clean, sluggish coastal stream amongst hydrophytes (Ref. 85799). Can survive in water temperature as low as 5°C. Feed on zooplankton and detritus. Aquarium keeping: in groups of 5 or more individuals; minimum aquarium size 60 cm (Ref. 51539).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kottelat, M., 2001. Freshwater fishes of northern Vietnam. A preliminary check-list of the fishes known or expected to occur in northern Vietnam with comments on systematics and nomenclature. Environment and Social Development Unit, East Asia and Pacific Region. The World Bank. 123 p. (Ref. 44416)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: highly commercial; aquarium: highly commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01023 (0.00400 - 0.02616), b=3.08 (2.85 - 3.31), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.7 ±0.31 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm<1).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
