TAXONOMY:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae (Minnows or Carps)
Genus/species: Epalzeorhynchos bicolor
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Deep velvet-black body and bright red caudal fin. Two fleshy projections (barbels) extend from the edges of the mouth Max. length: 15 cm (6 inches).
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Originally from the Mae Klong River in Thailand. Found in the middle and bottom levels of freshwater streams and rivers, especially areas with rocks and/or plants for resting and hiding.
DIET IN THE WILD: Omnivorous, primarily a bottom-feeding scavenger.
REPRODUCTION: E. bicolor spawns in rocky caves, and the young hatch after 30 to 60 hours. Four days after hatching, the young are free-swimming, but do not develop the characteristic red tail until seven to ten weeks old.
CONSERVATION: IUCN: Critically Endangered (CR)
Habitat alteration; during the 1970s contributed to its decline. Captive bred in Thailand for aquarium export trade.
LONGEVITY: 5-8 years.
REMARKS: In spite of its common name, most likely a reference to its streamlined, torpedo shape, it is not a shark. Related to carp.
Location: Borneo
References
fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/Epalzeorhynchos-bicolor.html
Encyclopedia of life eol.org/pages/1015624/details
ARKIVE http://www.arkive.org/redtailed-black-shark/epalzeorhynchos-bicolor/
Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608614099673/
Ron’s WordPress shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-16X
Ron's Critter of the Day 