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Giant danio (Devario aequipinnatus) — Cyprinidae

Giant danio

Devario aequipinnatus
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Giant danio (Devario aequipinnatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The giant danio is a cyprinid from South Asia, in clear hill streams of India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a streamlined, blue-green body with golden longitudinal stripes and dotted lines. It forms fast, active schools in the upper water layer of flowing streams and feeds on insects, worms and small crustaceans. The fish is harmless to humans, popular in the aquarium trade and assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Giant danio?

The Giant danio has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly blue and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Giant danio live?

The Giant danio lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Giant danio get?

The Giant danio grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Giant danio dangerous to humans?

No, the Giant danio is harmless to humans.

Is the Giant danio edible?

The Giant danio is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Reuzendanio verified
English name
Giant danio verified
Scientific name
Devario aequipinnatus
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Giant danio verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Blue inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Devario

More from the family Cyprinidae

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