Indian flying barb

The Indian flying barb (Esomus danrica), historically flying barb, is one of the species known in the group flying barbs owing to their extremely long barbels. It was discovered as long ago as 1822 by Hamilton. However, it is rarely seen in aquaria. It is found in Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India, it is found in many of the same localities as Danio rerio and Danio dangila, an example being the Jorai Rivulet, a tributary of the Sankosh river in Coochbehar district, West Bengal, India. The rare fish Borellius spp. is locally named "Boirali maach".

Indian flying barb
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Danioninae
Genus: Esomus
Species:
E. danrica
Binomial name
Esomus danrica
(F. Hamilton, 1822)
Synonyms[2]
  • Esomus danricus Hamilton, 1822
  • Nuria danrica (Hamiton, 1822)
  • Cyprinus sutiha Hamilton, 1822
  • Esomus sutiha (Hamilton, 1822)
  • Cyprinus jogia Hamilton, 1822
  • Esomus jogia (Hamilton, 1822)
  • Perilampus recurvirostris McClelland, 1839
  • Perilampus macrouru McClelland, 1839
  • Perilampus thermophilus McClelland, 1839
  • Nuria thermophilos (McClelland, 1839)
  • Leuciscus vittatus Swainson, 1839
  • Esomus vittatus (Swainson, 1839)

Description

This fish reaches a maximum length of 6 in (15 cm). The Indian flying barb is a silver fish with a black line on an elongated body and gold fins. Barbels reach almost to the anal fin.

Behaviour

This fish has an exceptional ability for jumping, hence its name.

Research in 2001 by Fang Fang suggests that Esomus is the genus most closely related to Danio, closer even than Devario.

  • Temperature preference: 20-25 Celsius
  • pH preference: 7.6
  • Hardness preference: Soft to medium
  • Salinity preference: Zero
  • Compatibility: Good but fast like most danios, a largeish fish, needs plenty of space
  • Life span: Typically 3 to 5 years
  • Ease of keeping: Moderate
  • Ease of breeding: Moderate to hard
  • A tank with a tight fitting lid with no gaps is recommended.

References
  1. Devi, R. & Boguskaya, N. (2009). "Esomus danrica". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2009: e.T188105A8641542. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T188105A8641542.en. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  2. "Synonyms of Esomus danrica (Hamilton, 1822)". Fishbase. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
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