Biology:Carassius praecipuus

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Short description: Species of cyprinid

Carassius praecipuus
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Carassius
Species:
C. praecipuus
Binomial name
Carassius praecipuus
Maurice Kottelat, 2012
Carassius praecipuus range map.pdf

Carassius praecipuus is a species of cyprinid found in the Nam Chat river in Xiangkhouang province in Laos. It has a compressed, moderately elongate body with a brownish-yellow coloration.[1]

Taxonomy

Its species name, praecipuus, is Latin for 'uncommon', alluding to the unexpected presence of a species of Carassius in the Mekong drainage. It was described by Maurice Kottelat in 2012.[1]

Distribution and habitat

It is only found in the Nam Chat river in Laos. However, it may also be present in nearby bodies of water in the Mekong drainage.[1]

Description

Crucian carp gills under a microscope, showing high density of gill rakers.

It is yellowish-brown in body color and reaches up to 62 millimetres (2.4 in) in standard length and 80.8 millimetres (3.18 in) in total length. It can be distinguished from other species of Carassius by its low count of dorsal fin rays (9-​11 12), lateral line scales (25-27), and gill rakers (20-21).[1]

Behaviour

Reproduction and life cycle

Oocytes have been collected from a specimen in February, so it can be inferred that the species spawns at the end of the dry season or the start of the wet season. The specimen measured was the largest and measured 62 mm SL, so sexual maturity is presumably attained at this length.[1] Eggs of the closely related Carassius auratus hatch within 4-6 days,[2] so Carassius praecipuus eggs could be assumed to hatch quickly.

Feeding

Not much is known about the feeding behavior of the species. Carassius auratus consumes invertebrates and plant matter in the wild.[3]

See also

Carassius auratus

References

Wikidata ☰ Q67183857 entry