THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

108 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
vertical bar on the caudal peduncle. Juveniles
with black teardrop-shaped marking on cheek;
barbel always longer than eye width. Eyes
located on upper-side of head.
Diet: Predatory. Adults mainly piscivorous,
but in Saguling Reservoir, West Java, 74% of
the diet consists of aquatic insects.
Reproduction and Development: Breeds
throughout the winter rainy season.
Remarks: Good food fish, although bony.
Marketed fresh.
Golden Shiner
Notemigonus crysoleucas (Cyprinidae)
Minnows or Carps
Distribution: East Coast of U.S. from Nova Scotia
south to Florida, inland to Mississippi River
drainage, and throughout most of the Midwest.
Introduced to parts of Arizona and California.
Habitat: Clear, weedy, shallows of lakes,
ponds, and rivers. Most often found in clear,
vegetated areas, especially in quiet waters.
Appearance: Adults c. 15 cm long; females
larger than males. Dark green above, olive
sides, golden belly; large, loosely attached
gold scales.
Diet: Young feed primarily on plankton; adults
are also filter feeders on plankton, but also take
aquatic insects, mollusks, and plant material,
which makes up about half of the diet.
Reproduction and Development: Spawns
May to July; female deposits adhesive eggs
over filamentous algae and other submerged
plants. Non-guarders.
Mortality/Longevity: Mature at 2–3 years;
lifespan up to 9 years. Fed upon by larger
fishes, including game fishes such as pike,
trout and bass.
Remarks: A popular baitfish because of its
bright, flashing coloration. Because baitfish are
often dumped after a day of fishing, they may
be introduced to new habitats, sometimes outcompeting
native species. Today, some areas have
banned the use of live baitfish.
Common name comes from the adult’s characteristic
golden sheen.
T-Barb
Puntius lateristriga (Cyprinidae)
Minnows or Carps
Distribution: Southeast Asia: Malaysia,
Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia.
Habitat: Clear forest streams and rivers.
Appearance: Size to 18 cm. Noted for the black
bars on the body, usually two vertical and
one horizontal. Their pattern gives the fish its
common name, “T-barb.”
Diet: Feeds on insects, worms, and plant matter.
Reproduction and Development: Open water/
substratum egg scatterers; non-guarders.
Black Ruby Barb
Puntius nigrofasciatus (Cyprinidae)
Minnows or Carps
Distribution: Southeast Asia.
Habitat: Clear, cool, shady streams in forested
areas to 300 m elevation, over gravel or sand
substrate. Sometimes found in pools of quiet
water in the margins of clear streams and
rivers.
Appearance: Length to 6.7 cm. Head red, flanks
marked with 3–4 black bars. Breeding colors
more dramatic.
Diet: Primarily filamentous algae and detritus.
Reproduction and Development: Spawns in
shallow water among marginal weeds. Parents
do not guard eggs. Eggs (>100) hatch in one to
two days; fry are free-swimming after 24 hours.
Mortality/Longevity: Life span: 5 years.
Clown Loach
Botia macracanthus (Cobitidae)
Loaches
Distribution: Indonesia (Sumatra and Borneo).
Habitat: Demersal, tropical freshwater streams
and rivers.
Appearance: Length to 30 cm. Body orange
with 3 very broad black bars.
Diet: Feeds on annelid worms, benthic crustaceans
and plant matter.
Reproduction and Development: External
fertilization. Mate at the beginning of the rainy
season in fast flowing rivers. Batch spawners.
Nonguarders. Brood hiders.
Remarks: Minor commercial fishery; also taken
for the aquarium trade.
Dwarf Loach
Botia sidthimunki (Cobitidae)
Loaches
Distribution: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand.