Description:
- Dorsal fin: I, 6; pectoral fin: I, 9; pelvic fin: I, 10; anal fin: 40.
- The fish has a smooth body, lacking scales. The head is flattened, and the body is laterally compressed.
- There are four pairs of barbels.
- The snout is blunt.
- The mouth is inferior.
- The upper lip is thick.
- The interorbital space is wide.
- A deep groove runs along the midline of the head from the snout to the eyes.
- The gill opening is wide.
- The dorsal fin has one rigid, serrated spine with small, sparse serrations on both sides.
- The anal fin is long.
- The caudal fin is deeply forked, with two equal lobes.
- The adipose fin is small.
- The lateral line is distinct and straight.
- The fish has a gray back and flanks, with a pale belly.
Biology:
- The species is omnivorous.
- Its diet consists of invertebrates, insects, small fish, and higher-order animals.
- The fish reaches sexual maturity after two years.
- The breeding season is from April to June.
- Spawning occurs in rocky crevices along the banks of large rivers in the lower reaches.
- Parental fish exhibit egg-guarding behavior.
Habitat and Ecology:
- The fish inhabits the mid-water zone.
Distribution:
- Vietnam: Found in most lowland and mid-stream areas of large rivers in Northern Vietnam: Hanoi (Red River), Hung Yen, Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa (Ma River), Nghe An (Lam River, Con Cuong region).
- Worldwide: China.
Use Value:
- The fish’s flesh is considered very tasty.
- It has potential as a farmed species.
- Natural production is relatively high.
Conservation Status:
- The species is being overexploited in the wild.
- Population is declining rapidly.
- Threat level: Vulnerable.
Recommended Conservation Measures:
- Regulations for the conservation and sustainable exploitation of the species in the wild should be implemented.