Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps) > Probarbinae
Etymology: Probarbus: Greek, pro = first, in front of + Latin, barbus = barbel (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Roberts.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Tropical
Asia: endemic to the Mekong.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 150 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30857); max. published weight: 70.0 kg (Ref. 10431)
Dorsal soft rays (total): 13; Anal soft rays: 8; Vertebrae: 40 - 41. Differs from the two other species of Probarbus in having slightly smaller (and more numerous) scales, scale row between dorsal fin origin and lateral line scale row 6; six instead of only five stripes on body above lateral line; lips greatly enlarged; barbels reduced in length, sometimes absent; and slightly more numerous vertebrae. Posterior margin of lower lip entirely free from side to side.
Occurs in large upland rivers. Feeds on benthic organisms and insect larvae (Ref. 58784). Undergoes upstream movement for spawning (Ref. 58784). Little is known about this species due to past confusion with P. jullieni. Apparently migrates together with P. jullieni and has been decimated by the intensive gillnet fishery directed at that species just above the Lee Pee Waterfalls in southern Laos (Ref. 10431). However, further investigation is needed to find out whether it shares the same spawning grounds and times (Ref. 10431).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Rainboth, W.J., 1996. Fishes of the Cambodian Mekong. FAO species identification field guide for fishery purposes. FAO, Rome, 265 p. (Ref. 12693)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01122 (0.00514 - 0.02450), b=3.04 (2.87 - 3.21), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).