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:
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.
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 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)
Not strictly speaking a danionin genus, Tanichthys is widely regarded as one.
A genus comprising the flying barbs, Esomus species are closely related to the genus Danio and are distinctive for their extremely long barbels.
Chela is a closely related genus to Devario
Parachela is closely related to Chela and Devario
A genus closely related to Devario, Inlecypris comprises two smallish barred fish from Lake Inle in Myanmar.
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 comprises tiny, recently discovered fish.
"Several other as yet unnamed Danionella species have very recently been discovered".
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 contains the smallest known fish in the world.
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.
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.
The giant danio is a tropical fish belonging to the minnow family Cyprinidae. Originating in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the west coast of India, this species grows to a maximum length of 4-6 inches (10-15 cm), making it one of the largest of the danionins. It is characterized by a blue and yellow, torpedo-shaped body with gray and clear fins.
Devario is a genus of fish in the family Cyprinidae native to the rivers and streams of South and Southeast Asia. These fishes have short barbels and many species having vertical or horizontal stripes. These species consume various small, aquatic insects, crustaceans and worms, as well as, in the case of fry, plankton.
Microrasbora is a genus of small fishes. The generic name means "small Rasbora", however these are more closely related to the danios than rasboras. They inhabit freshwater in Myanmar and Yunnan, China.
Danio is a genus of small freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae found in South and Southeast Asia, commonly kept in aquaria. They are generally characterised by a pattern of horizontal stripes, rows of spots or vertical bars. Some species have two pairs of long barbels. Species of this genus consume various small aquatic insects, crustaceans and worms.
The Indian flying barb, historically flying barb, is one of the species known in the group flying barbs owing to their extremely long barbels. It was discovered as long ago as 1822 by Hamilton. However, it is rarely seen in aquaria. It is found in Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India, it is found in many of the same localities as Danio rerio and Danio dangila, an example being the Jorai Rivulet, a tributary of the Sankosh river in Coochbehar district, West Bengal, India. The rare fish Borellius spp. is locally named "Boirali maach". In Nepalese Terai it is called Dedhawa.
Sundadanio axelrodi is a danionin in the family Cyprinidae, with origin from Borneo, Bangka, and Sumatra. Originally described as a rasbora, Rasbora axelrodi, this tiny species was later deemed to be more closely related to the danios but not enough to be moved into the genus Danio. Sundadanio axelrodi reaches a maximum size of 1.7 cm. Sundadanio was considered monotypic until the genus was reassessed by Conway, Kottelat and Tan in 2011.
Microdevario kubotai is a species of cyprinid found in southeast Asian rivers and streams. It belongs to the genus Microdevario, which contains small danionins. The type locality is in Ranong Province, Peninsular Thailand. It is also known from the adjacent Phang Nga Province and the Ataran basin in Myanmar. It likely occurs elsewhere in the region and an introduced population exists in the Songgaria River. It reaches up to 1.9 cm (0.75 in) in length,the maximum length can reach 2.5 cm (0.98 in).
Danio margaritatus, the celestial pearl danio, often referred to in the aquarium trade as galaxy rasbora or Microrasbora sp. 'Galaxy', is a small cyprinid from Myanmar and Northern Thailand. It has so far been found only in a very small area near Hopong east of Inle Lake, at an elevation of over 1,000 m (3,400 ft). Its habitat is part of the Salween basin, namely the Nam Lang and Nam Pawn Rivers. Discovered in 2006, the species quickly appeared in the aquarium trade, where its small size and bright colours made it an instant hit.
Danio erythromicron, often known as emerald dwarf danio and emerald dwarf rasbora, is a species of cyprinid fish which is endemic to Inle Lake in Myanmar.
The dracula fish is a species of tropical danionin fish from the cyprinid family. It is a freshwater fish endemic to Myanmar. A close relative is Danio rerio, the zebrafish of aquariums. It is named dracula after its unusual "fangs"; male dracula fish have protruding tooth-like bones stemming from their jawbones. Males have been observed using their fangs to spar with other males.
Microdevario is a small genus of danionin cyprinids. It was recently described to include species previously in the genus Microrasbora. These small freshwater fish are native to Burma (Myanmar) and adjacent parts of Thailand, and reach up to 1.5–2.3 cm (0.6–0.9 in) in length depending on the exact species involved.
The danionins are a group of small, minnow-type fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae. Species of this group are in the genera clades danio and devario, based on the latest phylo-genetic research by Fang et al in 2009. They are primarily native to the fresh waters of South and Southeast Asia, with fewer species in Africa. Many species are brightly coloured and are available as aquarium fish worldwide. Fishes of the danio clade tend to have horizontal stripes, rows of spots, or vertical bars, and often have long barbels. Species within the devario dlade tend to have vertical or horizontal bars, and short, rudimentary barbels, if present at all. All danionins are egg scatterers, and breed in the rainy season in the wild. They are carnivores, living on insects and small crustaceans.
The frail gourami or noble gourami is a mouth brooding species of gourami native to northeastern India and Bangladesh. This species grows to a length of 10 cm (3.9 in). It is only seldom found in the aquarium trade, courtesy of its extreme sensitivity to shipping stress and high levels of aggression. This species is the only known member of its genus.
Red dwarf rasbora is a species of cyprinid found endemic to Lake Inle in Shan State in Myanmar. It belongs to the genus Microrasbora, which contains two small species of danionins.
Microrasbora microphthalma is a species of cyprinid that is endemic to small hill streams in Yunnan, China. It belongs to the genus Microrasbora, which contains small danionins. It reaches up to 2.6 cm (1.0 in) in standard length.