Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps) > Smiliogastrinae
Etymology: Dawkinsia: Named for Richard Dawkins, for his contribution to the public understanding of science and, in particular, of evolutionary science.
Eponymy: Dr Clinton Richard Dawkins (d: 1941) is an ethologist and evolutionary biologist who was Professor for Public Understanding of Science (1995–2008) at Oxford, which had awarded both his bachelor’s degree (1962) and his doctorate (1966) and where he [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Asia: restricted to the eastern slopes of the Knuckles Hills in the Kalu River at Pallegama, Sri Lanka at elevations of 300-500 m. Very rare and the only known existing population is in imminent danger of extinction due to the siltation of the Kalu caused by gem mining upstream.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6028)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Adults of Puntius srilankensis are distinguished from P. filamentosus, P. singhala and P. assimilis by possessing a prominent black markings on body anterior to anal-fin origin. They differ from P. exclamatio by the absence of an elongate, tear-shaped black blotch above and anal fin; from P. arulius and P. tambraparniei by having mouth inferior and lower lip medially absent ( vs. mouth subterminal, lower lip entire) (Ref. 55036).
A mid-water fish found in areas of rapidly flowing water with pebbly substrate (not found in silty substrate). With a clearly defined territory (of several square meters) and without lateral spatial preferences. Individuals of the same size often form loose schools. Presently not available in sufficient numbers to be exported by the aquarium trade.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Pethiyagoda, R., 1991. Freshwater fishes of Sri Lanka. The Wildlife Heritage Trust of Sri Lanka, Colombo. 362 p. (Ref. 6028)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: potential
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5020 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01072 (0.00502 - 0.02287), b=3.02 (2.84 - 3.20), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.7 ±0.1 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).