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Aaptosyax grypus

(Giant Salmon Carp)

Overview

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Family : Minnows or carps ; A large fast-swimming predator , feeding on fish of the middle and the upper water levels. Although most common along the Thai-Lao border at the mouth of the Mun River , its numbers have drastically decreased in recent years. This is perhaps due to dam construction or excessive gill netting , to which active pursuit predators, like this species, are particularly vulnerable[1]. Undertakes upstream migration at the same time as Probarbus sp. in December-February[2] which may be related to spawning activity[3]. Attains over 30 kg [3].

Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Chinese:

曲鯉

Common Names in Czech:

Sanak Asijský, Sanak Asijský

Common Names in English:

Giant Salmon Carp

Common Names in Lao:

Pa Sanak, Pa Sanak Gnai, Sanak

Common Names in Laotian:

Pa Sanak, Pa Sanak Gnai, Sanak

Common Names in Mandarin Chinese:

曲鯉

Description

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Family Cyprinidae

Distribution: North America (northern Canada to southern Mexico), Africa, and Eurasia . Pharynx with 1-3 rows of teeth, each row with a maximum of 8 teeth. Usually thin lips , plicae or papillae absent; mouth sometimes suckerlike (Garra and Labeo). With or without barbels . Premaxilla usually borders the upper jaw making the maxilla entirely or almost entirely excluded from the gape. Usually protrusible upper jaw. Dorsal fin with spinelike rays in some. Primitive number of chromosomes 2n=50, some with 48; polyploidy exists. Maximum length at least 2.5 m to probably 3 m in Catlocarpio siamensis; many species less than 5 cm. Mainly non-guarders, but in some species males build nests and/or protect the eggs .The family Cyprinidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes ) and the Order Cypriniformes. It contains 210 genera and 2010 species. It may be found in Brackish , and Freshwater environments and is primarily Primary freshwater. Many members of this family are used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is subcarangiform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be normal. Members of this family have been dated back to the Eocene epoch of the Tertiary period. This family may be found from 70° n to 34° s and 150° w to 170° e. Etymology of this family name : Greek, kyprinos = goldfish .

Habitat

Biome: Fresh water . Demersal .

Biology

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Migration

Limnodromous .

Taxonomy

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Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Data last modified by FishBase 03-May-1997

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Aaptosyax

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 1 species and subspecies in this genus:

A. grypus (Giant Salmon Carp)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 04, 2008:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Rainboth, W.J. (1996). Fishes of the Cambodian Mekong. FAO Species Identification Field Guide for Fishery Purposes. FAO, Rome, 265 p. [back]
  2. Chan Sokheng, Chhuon Kim Chhea, S. Viravong, K. Bouakhamvongsa, U. Suntornratana, N. Yoorong, Nguyen Thanh Tung, Tran Quoc Bao, A.F. Poulsen and J. Valbo Jørgensen (1999). Fish migrations and spawning habits in the Mekong mainstream: a survey using local [back]
  3. Roberts, T.R. (1993). Artisanal fisheries and fish ecology below the great waterfalls of the Mekong River in southern Laos. Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 41:31-62. [back]
Last Revised: 7/2/2009