Greater scissortail

The greater scissortail (Rasbora caudimaculata) is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Rasbora. It inhabits forest creeks in Malaysia, Indonesia and the lower Mekong basin.[1]

Greater scissortail
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Danioninae
Genus: Rasbora
Species:
R. caudimaculata
Binomial name
Rasbora caudimaculata
Volz, 1903[1]

Local names

  • Called Betelah by the Merap community[2]
  • Called Beteluh by the Punan community[2]
  • Called Beteloh by the Kenyah community[2]
  • Called Seluang Engkrunyuk in Malay[3]
  • Called Enseluai in Iban[3]

Description

a large Rasbora, able to reach a total length of 15 cm (6 inches).

Superficially resembles Rasbora trilineata, where it differ is the orange to red mark at each lobe of the caudal fin, just before the black mark on the fin lobes, and the larger adult size of R. caudimaculata. The dorsal fin on specimens may also have a light orange mark.

Distribution

The geographical range of the species is debated as accounts of them from Southern Thailand and Cambodia are most likely misidentification. It is more likely the species is restricted to the southern tip of the Peninsular Malaysia, the Greater Sunda Islands and the whole of Borneo[4]

In Borneo, the species seem to be in abundant [2] while in Peninsular Malaysia it is not a common species with very localized populations, possibly due to lost of habitat.

Habitat

It is an adaptable fast swimming species,[3] able to live in fast flowing forest streams with a sandy or rocky bottom, or even sluggish blackwater habitats like peat swamp rivers. In most of these habitats, submerged plants or wood are used as hiding places from predators, young individuals are even documented near section of river where Eusideroxylon zwageri trees grow.[2]

Some other species that live sympatricly with R. caudimaculata are R. borapetensis, B. sealei and B. kuchingensis. Channa lucius have been documented predating this species.[5]

References

  1. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2013). "Rasbora caudimaculata" in FishBase. April 2013 version.
  2. Rachmatika, I.; Nasi, R.; Sheil, D.; Wan, M. (2005). A first look at the fish species of the middle Malinau: taxonomy, ecology, vulnerability and importance. Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). doi:10.17528/cifor/001813.
  3. Kottelat, M.; Widjanarti, E. (2005). "The fishes of Danau Sentarum National Park and the Kapuas Lakes area, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia". Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement (13): 139-173.
  4. "Rasbora caudimaculata (Greater Scissortail Rasbora) — Seriously Fish". Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  5. Channa lucius hunting Rasbora caudimaculata in Sarawak, retrieved 2023-02-16


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