Copper mahseer (Neolissochilus hexagonolepis)

Scientific name: Neolissochilus hexagonolepis McClelland, 1839

Copper mahseer (Neolissochilus hexagonolepis)

The Copper mahseer (Neolissochilus hexagonolepis) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. Native range: Asia, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and China.

Biology

Occurs in fast flowing streams and rivers with rocky bottom. Lives mainly in the middle of streams. Omnivorous. Feeds mainly on filamentous green algae, lesser on chironomid larvae, crustaceans and water beetles. Migrate upstream during the breeding season where spawning takes place on stones and gravel. Spawns from April to October with a peak in August to September. Male matures at 9 cm. Flesh is considered delicious and market demand is great.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Neolissochilus hexagonolepis
Family
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order
Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
120
Environment
Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Asia: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and China.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Near Threatened (NT)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=3)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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