Cambodian logsucker

Cambodian logsucker
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Cyprinidae
Subfamily:	Labeoninae
Genus:	Garra
Species:	G. cambodgiensis
Binomial name
Garra cambodgiensis (Tirant, 1883)
Synonyms
Cirrhina cambodgiensis Tirant, 1883 Garra taeniata Smith, 1931 Garra taeniatops Fowler, 1935 Garra parvifilum Fowler, 1939

The Cambodian logsucker (Garra cambodgiensis), also known as stonelapping minnow or false Siamese algae eater, is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Garra. It lives in Southeast Asia.

Description

The Cambodian logsucker has a broad midlateral stripe which has a width roughly equal to two scale rows, it has two black bands on the dorsal fin while the caudal fin may be plain or have dark margins. They are sexually dimorphic with the females having fuller, rounder bellies than the males, the males develop a red inside of the mouth during the spawning season and both sexes develop tubercles on the head and snout when breeding, although these are more obvious in the males. They grow to 15 cm (5.9 in) standard length.

Distribution

The Cambodian logsucker lives in the Mekong of Laos, Cambodia and Thailand, as well as in the Mae Klong, Chao Phraya and the river systems of south eastern Thailand in Phrae, Phitsanulok, Ubon Ratchathani, Trang, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Sawan, Yala, Chiang Rai and Surat Thani provinces of Thailand, in Peninsular Malaysia and in southeastern Mymanmar.

Habits and ecology

The Cambodian logsucker lives in rapidly flowing, small to medium sized streams with rocky beds. In submontane to hill regions, it may also occur in larger or lowland rivers. At the start of the monsoon, it moves into floodplains or paddy fields where it breeds. The fry are cared for by the parents until they are juveniles, at which point they return to the streams. It feeds on periphyton, phytoplankton and some insects. It is sociable in the wild, forming hierarchies in loose shoals. To settle disputes, the males charge each other, flare their fins, become paler in colour and extend their rostral processes.

Human use

The Cambodian logsucker is eaten by some local humans, especially when spawning. It is common in the aquarium trade, but must be hormonally induced to breed in captivity.