Percocypris
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Percocypris | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Cyprinidae |
| Subfamily: | Schizothoracinae |
| Genus: | Percocypris Y. T. Chu, 1935 |
| Type species | |
| Leptobarbus pingi Tchang, 1930 | |
Percocypris is a genus of cyprinid freshwater fishes found in large rivers and Fuxian Lake in the highlands of southern China and northern mainland southeast Asia.[1] They are predators that mainly feed on smaller fish.[1] They can reach up to around 50 cm (20 in) in standard length and more than 2 kg (4.5 lb) in weight.[2]
Percocypris all are rare and threatened. As of 2013, the Chinese Red List only recognizes one species in this genus (others considered subspecies) and treats it as vulnerable.[1] P. tchangi of the Red River has not been confirmed since its original description in 1936[1] (however, P. retrodorsalis has been recorded recently and some include it in P. tchangi).[2] Primary threats are overfishing and habitat loss, especially from dams and pollution.[1][3] P. pingi is farmed and captive-bred individuals are released back into the wild by several institutions in an attempt of countering its threatened status.[4]
