2013/08/30
Skip to content
Hong Kong Biodiversity Database
Hong Kong Biodiversity Database
General
Conservation
Distribution
Photo Gallery
References
General Information
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
Oriental Weatherfish
Animal Group:
Freshwater Fish
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Cypriniformes
Family:
Cobitidae
Other Common Name(s):
Japanese weatherfish
Description:
The Oriental Weatherfish is a mottled little fish. It has a long and cylindrical body with a rounded caudal fin. The body is covered with numerous small scales. Its ventral mouth is surrounded by 5 pairs of barbels (3 pairs on the upper jaw and the other 2 pairs on the lower lip). The fish is characterized by the presence of conspicuous adipose crests at the ventral and dorsal sides of its rear half body. The colour of the body varies with the environment but is generally brownish with numerous dark spots on its back and sides. There is a conspicuous black spot on the upper angle of the caudal fin base.
Conservation Status
AFCD Assessment
Common
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Status
Least Concern
Distribution
Distribution in Hong Kong
Records from streams and marshes throughout Hong Kong.
Global Distribution
China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam.
Photo Gallery
References
More on Freshwater Fish in HK
Lam, K. S. (2002).
Freshwater Fish in Hong Kong.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Friends of the Country Parks and Cosmos Books Ltd., Hong Kong.
Lee, V. L. F., Lam, S. K. S., Ng, F. K. Y., Chan, T. K. T. and Young, M. L. C. (2004).
Field Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Hong Kong.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Friends of the Country Parks and Cosmos Books Ltd., Hong Kong
Man, S.H. and Hodgkiss, I.J. (1981).
Hong Kong Freshwater Fishes.
The Urban Council, Hong Kong.
