Oryzias latipes (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
Japanese rice fish
Oryzias latipes
photo by Ho, H.-C.

Family:  Adrianichthyidae (Ricefishes), subfamily: Oryziinae
Max. size:  4 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish; pH range: 7 - 8; dH range: 9 - 19, amphidromous
Distribution:  Asia: Japan, Korea, China and Viet Nam. Reported from the middle Nam Theun, Mekong, Irrawaddy, Salween, Red River and Nanpangjiang in basins (Ref. 27732).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-7; Anal soft rays: 15-21; Vertebrae: 30-31. Meristic characters mainly from Nam Theun, Laos sample only (Ref. 27658). Scale count refers to the scales in longitudinal row (Ref. 41299).
Biology:  Adults occur in ponds, marshes, paddy fields and small flows of plains (Ref. 41299). They prefer slow-moving streams. Inhabit mainly waters of lowlands and brackish water, and also known to inhabit tide pools of coasts of certain regions in Japan and Korea. They can withstand a wide range of salinity (Ref. 58933). Omnivorous (Ref. 58933). For indoor culture, a diluted sea water is rather better than the freshwater , and the use of a balanced salt solution is recommended, if the tap water proves to be unsuitable (Ref. 58933). Used in experimental research (Ref. 4537). Non-annual breeders. Are easy to maintain in the aquarium (Ref. 27139). A fluorescent ornamental variety (genetically modified fish), a product of fluorescent protein extracted from jellyfish and attaching to DNA in embryonic fish of this is now being sold in the aquarium trade (Ref. 48573).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 March 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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