Luciocyprinus striolatus

Luciocyprinus striolatus
Systematics
without rank:	Otophysa
Order :	Carp-like (Cypriniformes)
Subordination :	Carp fish-like (Cyprinoidei)
Family :	Carp fish (Cyprinidae)
Genre :	Luciocyprinus
Type :	Luciocyprinus striolatus
Scientific name
	Luciocyprinus striolatus
	Cui & Chu , 1986

Luciocyprinus striolatus , called Pba Kang in Laos , is a large Asian predatory fish from the carp family .

distribution

Luciocyprinus striolatus lives endemically in the upper and middle reaches of the Mekong in Yunnan / China and Laos . The fish species was observed particularly frequently in the Nam Theun River , a tributary of the Lao Mekong.

Description and way of life

Luciocyprinus striolatus , translated “pike carp”, has a streamlined body, a bluish color with dark spots. It can be over 2 meters long and weigh around 50 kilograms. There are even reports of exceptional fish over 3 meters long and weighing over 100 kilograms.

Luciocyprinus striolatus is predominantly piscivorous, preying on birds and small rhesus monkeys ( Macaca mulatta ) in the Nam Theun Basin , which can be caught jumping on branches hanging in the water in the bank region. Its most common prey fish are other carp species and catfish of the species Mystus microphthalmus . The predatory fish prefers to stay in large, deep rivers with slow currents. During the dry season from January to February, Luciocyprinus striolatus sets out to migrate to its spawning region. These hiking routes are interrupted by the Nakai Dam on Nam Theun. The species is considered to be critically endangered. The Luciocyprinus population in the Nam Theun valley is still considered to be the most stable.