Systomus sarana (Hamilton, 1822)
Olive barb
photo by Ramani Shirantha

Family:  Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Smiliogastrinae
Max. size:  42 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,400.0 g
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish, potamodromous
Distribution:  Asia: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan (Ref. 4832) and Sri Lanka (Ref. 6028). Reported from Myanmar (Ref. 57739) and Thailand (Ref. 9648).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 5-5. Body oblong, head, small, barbels 2 pairs. Maxillary pair longer than orbit, rostral pair shorter.
Biology:  Adults occur in rivers, streams, lakes and backwaters. Tolerant of salinity. They form schools in groups of four or five to several dozens (Ref. 6028). Feed on aquatic insects, fish, algae and shrimps. Spawn in running waters among submerged boulders and vegetation (Ref. 4832). Small fish have limited demand in the aquarium trade.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 October 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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