Stats

Lifespan

5-8 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Omnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

School

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

South Asia

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Speed

Status

Rare

About

Filament Barb, also known as poovali paral, is a swift-swimming fish found in coastal floodplains near the Southwest Indian states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Males fertilize eggs by swimming into the cloud of eggs, making it a fascinating reproductive behavior.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling fry

   A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Cypriniformes

Family

Cyprinidae

Genus

Dawkinsia

Species

Dawkinsia filamentosa