Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; depth range 5 - ? m (Ref. 27732). Subtropical; 5°C - 25°C (Ref. 2060); 53°N - 27°S
Asia: Native to Siberia (Tugur and Amur drainages), Sakhalin, Korea, Japan, China south to northern Vietnam. Europe: Introduced in several localities in Rhine (Germany) and Ticino (Italy, north of Milano) drainages, Aral Sea basin, North America, Australia and Hawaii.
This species proved successful in the aquarium fish trade and has also been introduced to other countries (Ref. 1739). At least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 28.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59043); common length : 15.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193)
Dorsal view shows the male with larger pectoral fins and the female with fuller abdomen (Ref. 44091). Body is mottled with darker greenish-gray to dark brown markings, against a yellow-brown to brown color; conspicuous adipose crests along the ventral and dorsal mid-lines of the caudal peduncle; 10 barbels; suborbital spine hidden in the skin (Ref. 27732).
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Occurs in rivers, lakes and ponds. Also in swamps and ricefields (Ref. 27732, 119549). Prefers muddy bottoms, where they hide in the muck and leaf litter with only their heads sticking out; prefers muddy bottoms of streams and ponds; in Hawaii, can also be found under mats of honohono (Commelina diffusa and California grass (Brachiara nuatica); feeds on worms, small crustaceans, insects, insect larvae, and other small aquatic organisms (Ref. 44091).
Male wraps his body around the female and stimulates her to release a cloud of eggs, which the male simultaneously fertilizes (Ref. 44091).
Talwar, P.K. and A.G. Jhingran, 1991. Inland fishes of India and adjacent countries. vol 1. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam. i-liv + 1-541, 1 map (Ref. 4832)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Potential pest (Ref. 8923)
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial; bait: occasionally
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5039 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00490 (0.00430 - 0.00558), b=3.08 (3.04 - 3.12), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.4 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec=2000 eggs).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (31 of 100).
