Hypsibarbus vernayi is a species of cyprinid fish in the genus Hypsibarbus. The specific name references Arthur S. Vernay, an English adventurer who collected the type specimen.[1]
The species can attain a maximum length of 21.6 cm and a maximum weight of 250 g.
The species is a freshwater fish and occurs in the basins of the Mekong, Chao Phraya and Mae Klong rivers in Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia.
In Thailand, this species will gather to breed and spawn in shallow streams, which are tributaries of the Nan River in the north. This phenomenon occurs only two days in early March of every year. The local people call this "Pla Kong" (Thai: ปลากอง; lit: "pile fishes"), a natural phenomenon that occurs rarely.[2]