Scientific Name– Pethia gelius
(Hamilton, 1822)
English Name– Golden barb
Local name- Sunahri pothia, Gilip pungti
Classification
| Class | Osteichthyes |
| Sub-Class | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Cypriniformes |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Sub-family | Cyprininae |
| Genus | Pethia |
| Species | gelius |
Habits and habitat
Pethia gelius fish is found in ponds, tanks, floodplain area, chaurs, beels and small reservoirs with muddy and silted bottom. It occurs in rivers and canals. This species is reported in Patna, Vaishali, Begusarai, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Champaran, and other districts of Bihar.
Salient features
This species is one of the smallest fish in the family. It is streamlined in shape and its body sprincles with black spots. The broad dark strip along the brownish body and belly silvery white which gives this fish a prety overall pattern. Caudal fin is delicate and reddish while other fins are clear with yellowish tings. It moves in group of few number and is fast mover and shows moderate movment. It is mostlly seen in north Bihar. Male is bigger than female. They breed in late summer season at temprature 26-27oC. It feeds on algae, plant matter, insects, larvae, and small crustaceans. This species eats it’s own eggs; It attains a length 2.5-3cm
source-
- Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore
