Hampala Barb

Has a black bar between the dorsal and pelvic fins in adults; orange to red caudal fin with a black longitudinal, marginal stripe along each lobe; juveniles usually with an additional vertical bar on the caudal peduncle (Ref. 27732); juveniles with black teardrop-shaped marking on cheek; barbel always longer than eye width (Ref. 12693). Eyes located in upper-side of head; with a vertical groove reaching behind mouth in isthmus; branchial membranes connected and free (Ref. 45536).

Potamodromous. Migrating within streams, migratory in rivers, e.g. Saliminus, Moxostoma, Labeo. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Analsoft rays: 8

Lives in rivers and lakes, and likes to stay in slow-flowing waters (Ref. 45536). Feeds on fish, prawns, insects and insect larvae. Becomes piscivorous upon reaching 20 cm (Ref. 8609).

Occurs mainly in clear rivers or streams with running water and sandy to muddy bottoms (Ref. 4832). Found in most water bodies, except small creeks, torrents, and shallow swamps (Ref. 27732, 57235). A migratory species (Ref. 37772). Enters flooded forest (Ref. 9497). Abundant in the Mekong and in the Nam Ngum Reservoir. Found in the basin-wide tributary of the lower Mekong (Ref. 36667). Largest individual believed to be in a pool below the Chendoroh Dam in Perah, Malaysia. A predatory fish: adults mainly piscivorous in Zoo Negara Lake, Malaysia, but in Saguling Reservoir, West Java, 74 % of the diet consists of aquatic insects. Breeds throughout the rainy season (Ref. 12693). Good fish though bony. May be made into `Lap pa'. Marketed fresh (Ref. 12693). Commonly seen in markets; economic important foodfish (Ref. 57235).

fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

The hampala barb (Hampala macrolepidota) is a relatively large southeast Asian species of cyprinid from the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, as well as Peninsular Malaysia and the Greater Sundas (Borneo, Java and Sumatra). It prefers running rivers and streams, but can be seen in most freshwater habitats except torrents, small creeks and shallow swamps. This predatory species reaches up to 70 cm (2.3 ft) in length and it is common at half that size.