Tor tambroides

Tor tambroides, known as empurau in Malay, is a species of mahseer native to Southeast Asia.

Tor tambroides
Kelah/empurau/Semah selubai, Tor tambroides
from Merangin, Indonesia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Tor
Species:
T. tambroides
Binomial name
Tor tambroides
(Bleeker, 1854)
Synonyms
  • Labeobarbus tambroides Bleeker, 1854
  • Barbus tambroides (Bleeker, 1854)

Taxonomy

It has been suggested that the species represents a junior synonym of Tor tambra.[2][3] T. tambra, T. tambroides and T. douronensis may be synonymous.[4]

Distribution

These fish have been found throughout Southeast Asia, ranging from Thailand in the Chao Phraya and Mekong River basins to the Greater Sunda Islands. The species has been reported in Burma.[5] The type locality of Tor tambroides is the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

Ecology

The species is omnivorous, sometimes eating toxic fruits when the streams it inhabits flood the forest; this may make them temporarily inedible. During the rainy season, juveniles migrate downstream. After 2 months, matured adults travel back upstream to spawn at the headwaters in the dry season.[5]

Conservation

While the species is not currently assigned a conservation status by the IUCN due to lack of data, overfishing is assumed to threaten the wild population.[1] The empurau, as the species is known in Malaysia, is reportedly the most expensive edible fish in the country[6] and has been known to fetch up to RM1800 per kilogram of the fish.[7]

Aquaculture

Empurau can be grown in captivity. The fish require moving, well-oxygenated water. They should be fed on various fruits and seeds to simulate their natural diet.[8] Artificial hormones may be necessary to induce reproduction.[9]

References
  1. Kottelat, M.; Pinder, A.; Harrison, A. (2018). "Tor tambroides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T187939A91076554. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T187939A91076554.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. Walton, S. E.; Gan, H. M.; Raghavan, R.; Pinder, Adrian C.; Ahmad, A. (2017). "Disentangling the taxonomy of the mahseers (Tor spp.) of Malaysia: An integrated approach using morphology, genetics and historical records" (PDF). Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture. 25 (3): 171–183. doi:10.1080/23308249.2016.1251391. S2CID 90763858.
  3. Pinder, Adrian C.; et al. (2019). "Mahseer (Tor spp.) fishes of the world: status, challenges and opportunities for conservation". Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries. 29 (2): 417–452. doi:10.1007/s11160-019-09566-y. S2CID 143424293.
  4. Roberts, T. R. (1999). "Fishes of the cyprinid genus Tor in the Nam Theun watershed (Mekong basin) of Laos, with description of a new species" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 47: 225–236.
  5. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2014). "Tor tambroides" in FishBase. August 2014 version.
  6. "Tycoon flies in on private jet for fish". The Star. 8 January 2014.
  7. "Empurau, the most expensive fish". Sin Chew Daily. 27 March 2010.
  8. Mail, Rintos (11 September 2016). "Empurau – king of the river". Borneo Post. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  9. "Guidelines for genetic management and conservation". Artificial propagation of empurau, Tor tambroides and semah, Tor douronensis, two species of commercial and conservation value to Sarawak, Malaysia. Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia-Pacific. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
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