Puntius is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Cyprinidae of the order Cypriniformes. Fishes of this genus are known as the spotted barbs for the predominant pattern, though many have vertical black bands instead. The name Puntius comes from pungti, a Bangla term for small cyprinids. The type species is the Pool Barb (Puntius sophore), first described as Cyprinus sophore by Hamilton in 1822.

Historically, many species of Puntius have been classified in several genera, including Barbus. Despite the reclassifications, the specific epithet remains the same in these - except in cases of homonymies -, as Barbus and Puntius have the same grammatical gender. The closest living relatives of the spotted barbs are the Cyprinion barbs, the Assamese Kingfish (Semiplotus semiplotus), and perhaps the Capoeta barbs

Description

These fishes are omnivorous; their diet includes small invertebrates and plant matter. Breeding is by egg scattering and takes place close to the bottom, near or within areas of dense plant growth. They do not show parental care, and adults may eat the young.

In the aquarium

These small tropical barbs are commonly kept as inhabitants of a warm water aquarium, and many species are commercially available. They are easy to feed, taking a wide variety of foods including dried food. Note that these inquisitive fish are active and unafraid, and many species have a reputation as "fin-nippers". These are unsuitable for aquaria with slow-moving, long-finned species.

Commonly-kept Puntius species include:

Species

Puntius cochonius subgroup

Footnotes

References

• (2008a): Mikko's Phylogeny Archive - Cyprinidae Version of 2008-MAR-17. Retrieved 2008-JUN-29.
• (2008b): Mikko's Phylogeny Archive - Puntius Version of 2008-MAR-11. Retrieved 2008-JUN-29.
• (1997): Freshwater Aquarium Fish. Chartwell Books, Edison, New Jersey. ISBN 0-7858-0867-1
• (2002): The Bumper Book of Tropical Aquarium Fishes (2nd ed.). Interpet Publishing. ISBN 1842860747

External links

• Article on P synderi and comparison with P semifasciolatus, see: http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/45.2/149.pdf
• Genetic studies of some South Asian Puntius species, see:
• http://www.journalarchive.jst.go.jp/jnlpdf.php?cdjournal=pjab1977&cdvol=53&noissue=6&startpage=231&lang=en&from=jnltoc
• http://www.journalarchive.jst.go.jp/jnlpdf.php?cdjournal=pjab1977&cdvol=53&noissue=7&startpage=282&lang=en&from=jnltoc
• Puntius stoliczkanus http://nels.nii.ac.jp/els/contents_disp.php?id=ART0006479298&type=pdf&lang=en&host=cinii&order_no=Z00000014593846&ppv_type=0&lang_sw=&no=1203405309&cp=
• Puntius phylogenetic tree http://www.bmnh.org/PDFs/FB_04_Science.pdf