Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Labriformes
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Genus
- Osteochilus
- Species
- melanopleurus
Habitat
This species primarily inhabits freshwater rivers, streams, and lakes in tropical Southeast Asia, favoring areas with slow to moderate currents and abundant vegetation. It is commonly found in large river systems like the Mekong and Kapuas, often in shallow, vegetated waters or near riverbanks.
Diet
The bony-lipped barb feeds on algae, aquatic plants, insects, and small invertebrates, using its specialized lips to scrape food from rocks and substrates. It exhibits bottom-feeding behavior and is most active during daylight hours when foraging in schools.
Behavior
Bony-lipped barbs are schooling fish that form groups for protection and foraging, displaying diurnal activity with most movement during the day. They can be territorial during spawning seasons and may undertake seasonal migrations in response to water level changes in their river habitats.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.