Tokyo bitterling
| Pseudorhodeus tanago | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
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| Genus: | Pseudorhodeus [2] Chang et al., 2014
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| Species: | P. tanago
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| Binomial name | |
| Pseudorhodeus tanago S. Tanaka, 1909
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| Synonyms | |
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Rhodeus tanago Tanaka, 1909 | |
The Tokyo bitterling (Pseudorhodeus tanago or Tanakia tanago) is a temperate freshwater fish of the carp family (Cyprinidae). Taxonomically, it belongs to the Acheilognathinae sub-family.[3] This fish reaches a size of up to 5 cm (2.0 in) TL.[3]
The species was first described as Rhodeus tanago by Shigeho Tanaka in 1909. It is widely known as Tanakia tanago,[3][4] although a 2014 study suggests it is genetically distinct from other Tanakia species, and warrants placement it the monotypic genus Pseudorhodeus.[2]
Distribution
In the wild, this fish is found only on the Kantō Plain of Japan, an area near the capital city, Tokyo. The fish was formerly abundant in small streams, but its habitat has been overrun by people and pollution.
Threats
This species was listed in the 1996 IUCN Red List as "Vulnerable", and there is a real risk that it could become extinct in the wild. It also suffers from competition from the related but more aggressive rosy bitterling. Bitterlings lay their eggs in freshwater mussel shells. The Tokyo bitterling lays its eggs in only one type of mussel shell, limiting its chances of successful breeding. To help protect the fish, it has been declared a "national monument" by the Japanese government, and this gives it special protection.[citation needed]
References
- ^ Kottelat, M. 1996. Tanakia tanago. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. Downloaded on 04 October 2014
- ^ a b Chang, Chia-Hao; Li, Fan; Shao, Kwang-Tsao; Lin, Yeong-Shin; Morosawa, Takahiro; Kim, Sungmin; Koo, Hyeyoung; Kim, Won; Lee, Jae-Seong; He, Shunping; Smith, Carl; Reichard, Martin; Miya, Masaki; Sado, Tetsuya; Uehara, Kazuhiko; Lavoué, Sébastien; Chen, Wei-Jen; Mayden, Richard L. (in press). "Phylogenetic relationships of Acheilognathidae (Cypriniformes: Cyprinoidea) as revealed from evidence of both nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequence variation: Evidence for necessary taxonomic revision in the family and the identification of cryptic species". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.08.026.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Tanakia tanago". FishBase. April 2013 version.
- ^ Tanakia tanago. Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. 27 August 2014. accessed 4 Oct 2014
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