Pristolepis fasciata

Pristolepis fasciata
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Family:	Pristolepididae
Genus:	Pristolepis
Species:	P. fasciata
Binomial name
Pristolepis fasciata (Bleeker, 1851)
Synonyms
Catopra fasciata Bleeker, 1851 Catopra nandoides Bleeker, 1851

Pristolepis fasciatus, commonly known as the Malayan leaffish, is a fish in the family Pristolepididae. It lives in the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo, possibly also in southern India and China.

Anatomy and appearance

It can grow to 20 cm (7.9 in) total length and reaches sexual maturity at a length of 7 to 8 cm. The body is stocky, high and heavily flattened on the sides. The mouth is narrow, small and only slightly protractile (can be pushed forward). It is collected for the aquarium trade and also used as a food fish.

Ecology

It commonly inhabits slow-flowing and stagnant waters in medium-sized rivers, lakes, ponds and swamps and is mainly found near the banks where there is plenty of vegetation. In the Mekong region, it migrates to flooded fields during the rainy season and back to its home waters during the dry season. It feeds on algae, parts of plants, fruits, seeds, aquatic insects and small crustaceans.