Puntius
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Cyprinus sophore Hamilton, 1822 |
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Puntius[1] is a genus of fish in the Cyprinidae family of order Cypriniformes. The type species is Cyprinus sophore (the pool barb, now called Puntius sophore), and fish of this genus are known as the spotted barbs. The name Puntius comes from a local Bangla name for small cyprinids called pungti.
Fish of the genus Puntius are found in Southeast Asia and India, including Sri Lanka. The maximum size for an adult of this genus is less than 25cm, typically 15cm, and many species only achieve around 5cm adult length. In appearance they may resemble miniature carp and are often brightly coloured or patterned. The fish are omnivorous; their diet includes small insect larvae, worms and plant matter.
Breeding is by egg scattering and takes place close to the bottom, near or within areas of dense plant growth. They do not show parental care, and adults may eat the young.
Historically, many species of Puntius have been classified in several genera, including Barbus, and have "barb" common names such as the tiger barb and so on. Despite the reclassifications, the specific epithet remains the same.
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[edit] In the aquarium
Many of these tropical barbs are commonly kept as inhabitants of a warm water aquarium, as many species are commonly available. They are easy to feed, taking a wide variety of foods including dried food. Many species are considered unsuitable in aquaria with slow-moving, long-finned tankmates.
[edit] Common aquarium species
Numerous small barbs are suited to aquaria.[2]
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Puntius arulius (Arulius barb) |
Puntius oligolepis (Checker barb) |
[edit] Species
There are many species.[3]
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P. amarus (Herre, 1924) |
P. disa (Herre, 1932) |
P. melanostigma (Day, 1878) (Wynaad barb) |
[edit] P. cochonius sub group
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P. conchonius (Hamilton, 1822) (Rosy barb) |
P. narayani (Hora, 1937) (Narayan barb) |
P. stoliczkanus (Day, 1871) (Tic-tac-toe barb) |
[edit] References
- ^ "Puntius". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. 05 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- ^ Myers, P.; R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. The Animal Diversity Web (online). Retrieved on 2006-05-27.
- ^ Cyprinidae: Cyprininae: genus Puntius (2005).
- Lambert, Derek J. Freshwater Aquarium Fish. (Edison, New Jersey: Chartwell Books, 1997), pgs. 14. ISBN 0-7858-0867-1
- The Bumper Book of Tropical Aquarium Fishes Compiled by Dick Mills. Interpet Publishing.
