| Hypsibarbus wetmorei | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Cyprinidae |
| Genus: | Hypsibarbus |
| Species: | H. wetmorei |
| Binomial name | |
| Hypsibarbus wetmorei (H. M. Smith, 1931) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
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. [1] [2] 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. [1] It typically reaches 25 cm (10 in) in length, [2] but has been recorded up to about 70 cm (2 ft 4 in). [3]
It is popular both as a food fish and as an ornamental species, particularly in shorter-than-normal forms known as "balloon" or "Pla San" (Thai : ปลาสั้น, lit. 'shorted fish' or 'dwarf fish'). In the ornamental fish trade, it is often kept as a tank mate with larger fish such as arowanas. [4] In Thailand, it is vernacularly known as Pla Tapak (ปลาตะพาก), Pla Tapak Lueng (ปลาตะพากเหลือง), Pla Tapak Thong (ปลาตะพากทอง), or Pla Krapak (ปลากระพาก), as mentioned in King Rama V's poem Journey to Sai Yok . [5]
Artificial insemination has been carried out by the Kamphaeng Phet Inland Fisheries Research and Development Center since 2010, with fry released into natural water bodies for conservation purposes. [6]
