List of danionin species explained

In the last few decades, many danionin species have been moved into different genera, in some cases repeatedly; similarly, some species have been synonymised with other species and even in some cases later unsynonymised, all of which has caused confusion. With a large number of recent discoveries, particularly in Myanmar in recent years, confusion has been caused. As a result, a separate page has been created which lists all danionin species and also lists defunct species which have since been synonymised or renamed. Individual danionin species are listed below in order of genus:

Species categorised by genus

Danio

The species remaining in the genus Danio comprise most of the danionins familiar to aquarists. They have two pairs of long barbels and are generally characterised by horizontal stripes (with the exception of the Panther Danio, Glowlight Danio and Black Barred Danio which have vertical bars. In size they range from 4 cm/ 1.75 in) to 15 cm/ 6 in).

Frequently used common names are given for reference, but if the common name does not appear, click on it on the section above for more details.

Devario

The Devario species comprise some danionins familiar to aquarists. Generally larger fish than Danios, they have short barbels (if present at all) and generally have deeper bodies than Danio, with species having vertical stripes present (as well as horizontal). In size, they range from 5  to 15 cm (2 to 6 in).

Little-known Devario species

Little is known about the following Devario species, but some information exists about them at the Fishbase Devario index(Fishbase: Ed. Rainer Froese and Daniel Pauly. July 2005 version)

Tanichthys

Not strictly speaking a danionin genus, Tanichthys is widely regarded as one.

Esomus

A genus comprising the flying barbs, Esomus species are closely related to the genus Danio and are distinctive for their extremely long barbels.

Chela

Chela is a closely related genus to Devario

Parachela

Parachela is closely related to Chela and Devario

Inlecypris

A genus closely related to Devario, Inlecypris comprises two smallish barred fish from Lake Inle in Myanmar.

"Miniature" danionins

The following genera of tiny fish are thought to be danionins closely related to Danio and Esomus, but too little is known about them to confirm this.

Danionella

Danionella comprises tiny, recently discovered fish.

Web site: Several other as yet unnamed Danionella species have very recently been discovered.

Microrasbora

The genus name Microrasbora means "small Rasbora", but these fish appear to be more closely related to the Danio species than Rasbora. Speculation exists that Microrasbora erythromicron may be transferred to the genus Danio, but this now seems unlikely.

Paedocypris

Paedocypris contains the smallest known fish in the world.

Sundadanio

A genus with only one species, the genus Sundadanio was created after Rasbora axelrodi species was transferred to this genus. S. axelrodi resembles a tiny Rasbora.

Danionins renamed or wrongly identified

These genera that previously described certain danionins are no longer valid:

All Devario species were formerly in the genus Danio. In addition, Devario acuticephala, Devario shanensis, and Devario sondhii were also regarded at one time as being in the former genus Brachydanio.Certain fish were formerly described within danionin genera and subsequently moved to their correct genus. Where such fish were moved to the genus: Achielognargus, Acanthorhodeus, Barilius, Opsarius, Oxygaster, Paralaubuca, Rhodeus, Salmostoma, and Securicula, such fish are not now deemed to be danionins.

See also

External links

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