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Harmand's barb (Cosmochilus harmandi) — Cyprinidae

Harmand's barb

Cosmochilus harmandi
Family: Cyprinidae

The Harmand's barb (Cosmochilus harmandi) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 100 cm.

Length
100 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

Harmand's barb is a large cyprinid (Cyprinidae) from large rivers of Southeast Asia, including the Mekong basin. The species grows to about 1 metre and has an elongate, silvery body with large scales, thick lips and several pairs of barbels. As a bottom-oriented fish it migrates through the river and searches for molluscs, crustaceans, plant material and detritus. It is a valued food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Harmand's barb?

The Harmand's barb has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Harmand's barb live?

The Harmand's barb lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Harmand's barb get?

The Harmand's barb grows to a maximum of about 100 cm. On average the species is around 30 cm.

Is the Harmand's barb dangerous to humans?

No, the Harmand's barb is harmless to humans.

Is the Harmand's barb edible?

Yes, the Harmand's barb is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Harmands barbeel sourced
English name
Harmand's barb sourced
Scientific name
Cosmochilus harmandi
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
100.0 verified
Average length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Cyprinidae

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