Fishes
157
Esomus danricus Hamilton 1822
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Common name: Flying barb.
Distribution: Asia: Pakistan, India,
Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri
Lanka, and Myanmar (Luna, 1988h).
Habitat: Freshwater and brackish
water; ponds, weedy ditches, and irrigation canals.
Description: This species is known for
its extremely long barbels, which reach
almost to the anal fin. It is a silver fish
with a black line on an elongated body
and gold fins. This species reaches a
maximum length of 15 cm.
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition (% WW)
Moisture
Ash
Protein
Lipid
77.20
2.54
17.12
3.13
Source: Data from Ahmed et al. (2012).
Vitamin A and Minerals (per 100 g)
Vitamin A (RAE) Ca a Fe b Zn b
890
0.9 12.0 4.0
RAE, retinol activity equivalent.
a g.
b mg.
Source: Data from Thilsted (2012).
Esomus longimanus Lunel 1881
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Common name: Mekong flying barb.
Distirbution: Asia: Mekong from the
Khorat Plateau, Thailand, to the Great
Lake, Cambodia (Casal, 1995b).
Habitat: Ditches, canals, and ponds
often in areas with extensive growth
of submerged aquatic plants; stagnant
water bodies, including sluggish flowing
canals as well as medium to large rivers.
Description: This species has two
pairs of barbels, and the rostral barbel
extends well beyond the eye. The  first
pectoral ray sometimes reaches the anal
fin. A narrow dark line runs from the
head to the caudal fin base. This  species reaches a maximum size of only
8 cm (Casal, 1995b).