Red Line Rasbora (Trigonopoma Pauciperforatum)

 Species Overview and Distribution

Trigonopoma pauciperforatum is a bony freshwater fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae (carps and minnows) . It was originally described by Weber and de Beaufort in 1916 and is often referred to by its former scientific name, Rasbora pauciperforata . It is native to Southeast Asia, with its distribution ranging from Thailand and Cambodia, through the Malay Peninsula, and into the islands of Indonesia (such as Sumatra and Borneo) .

 Habitat and Ecology

This species thrives in specific types of freshwater environments:

• Habitat Type: It is commonly found in blackwater streams, peat swamps, and marshes within forest canopies . These are typically shallow, sluggish, or standing waters .

• Water Conditions: The water in its natural habitat is characteristically soft, acidic (pH 5.0-6.0), and often stained a dark tea-color due to the presence of tannins from decaying organic matter .

• Feeding: It is a midwater to surface feeder, primarily consuming zooplankton and various insects .

• Behavior: It occupies the middle to upper levels of the water column .

 Appearance and Identification

The Redstripe Rasbora is a slender and elegant fish with the following key features:

• Body Shape: It has a very slender, elongated body with long fins . A distinctive feature is that the height of its dorsal fin is greater than the depth of its body .

• Coloration: As its common name suggests, it possesses a prominent reddish stripe that runs from the tip of the snout, through the eye, and along the body to the base of the tail . Just below this red stripe is a thin, blue-black line that makes the red stripe stand out even more .

• Lateral Line: A notable diagnostic feature is its incomplete lateral line, which distinguishes it from some other similar species .

• Size: It is a small species, reaching a maximum total length of up to 7.0 centimeters .