Hypsibarbus wetmorei, the golden belly barb, lemon fin barb,lemon barb or Kerai (often spelled as Krai) is a species of cyprinid fish. It is native to the Mae Klong, Mekong, Chao Phraya, Tapi and Pahang rivers in Mainland Southeast Asia. Although locally common and considered to be a species of Least Concern, it is threatened (at least in parts of its range) by overfishing, dams and pollution. It typically reaches 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on in length, but has been recorded up to about 70cm (30inches).[1]
It is very popular as a fish for consumption including an ornamental fish, especially in shorter-than-normal shapes called "balloon" or "Pla san" (Thai: ปลาสั้น; lit: shorted fish or dwarf fish[2]). This species in Thailand was vernacular named Pla Tapak (ปลาตะพาก), Pla Tapak Lueng (ปลาตะพากเหลือง), Pla Tapak Thong (ปลาตะพากทอง) or Pla Krapak (ปลากระพาก) according to the poem of King Rama V "Journey to Sai Yok" (ประพาสไทรโยค) etc.[3]
Artificial insemination was first performed by the Kamphaengpet Inland Fisheries Research and Development Center since 2010 and collected the harvested returns to natural water sources for conservation.[4]