Notopterus notopterus
No common name
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Osteoglossiformes
Notopteridae (Featherfin Knifefishes)
Notopterus
Notopterus notopterus
Description
This species account was compiled from
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Characters
Body shape: elongated. Distinguishable by its plain brown adult coloration and the convex or only slightly concave dorsal head profile; juveniles (<5 cm SL) with dark bars on the whole body (Ref. 27732); preopercular scale rows 6-8 (Ref. 7431); silvery-white with numerous fine grey spots on body and head (Ref. 4832). Striking features: none.
Distribution
Asia: Indus, Ganges-Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Krishna, Cauvery, and other river basins in southern India; Irrawaddy, and Salween; Meklong, Chao Phraya, Mekong and virtually all coastal river basins of peninsular Thailand and Malaysia; Sumatra and Java. Has never been reported in Borneo and is not present in the Red River basin of Tonkin (North Viet Nam).
Habitat Associations
Freshwater, brackish. demersal. Found in: streams, lakes.
Biology
Found in clear streams and enters brackish waters (Ref. 4832). Adults inhabit standing and sluggish waters of lakes, floodplains, canals and ponds (Ref. 12693). Undertake localized lateral migrations from the Mekong River to floodplains during the flood season and back to the mainstream or other permanent water bodies during the dry season (Ref. 37770). Common in tanks throughout the greater parts of India. Feed on insects, fish (Ref. 12693), crustaceans and some young roots of aquatic plants (Ref. 6459). Active during twilight and night. Colonize and breed seasonally during rainy days and migrates back to permanent waters in dry season (Ref. 12693). Breeding takes place in stagnant or running waters in the rainy season. Eggs are laid in small clumps on submerged vegetation. A female measuring 21-25 cm usually lays 1,200-3,000 eggs. The fish is relished both in fresh and dried state. Soup made from it is reported to be given to people with measles (Ref. 7431). Of high economic importance as food fish in South and Southeast Asia to Borneo and Sumatra and taken by all types of small-scale fishing gears (Ref. 57235).
Max length: 60.0 cm SL; common length: 25.0 cm TL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; guarders (clutch tenders); parental care: paternal. Spawning occurs at night (Ref. 1672).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2019-08-30. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Rahman, A.K.A. (1989) Freshwater fishes of Bangladesh. Zoological Society of Bangladesh. Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka. 364 p.
Kottelat, M., A.J. Whitten, S.N. Kartikasari and S. Wirjoatmodjo (1993) Freshwater fishes of Western Indonesia and Sulawesi. Periplus Editions, Hong Kong. 221 p.
Roberts, T.R. (1992) Systematic revision of the old world freshwater fish family Notopteridae. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 2(4):361-383.
Roberts, T.R. (1993) Artisanal fisheries and fish ecology below the great waterfalls of the Mekong River in southern Laos. Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 41:31-62.
Yap, S.-Y. (1988) Food resource utilization partitioning of fifteen fish species at Bukit Merah Reservoir, Malaysia. Hydrobiologia 157:143-160.
Kottelat, M. (1998) Fishes of the Nam Theun and Xe Bangfai basins, Laos, with diagnoses of twenty-two new species (Teleostei: Cyprinidae, Balitoridae, Cobitidae, Coiidae and Odontobutidae). Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 9(1):1-128.
Kottelat, M. (2001) Fishes of Laos. WHT Publications Ltd., Colombo 5, Sri Lanka. 198 p.
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