Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Giant barb (Catlocarpio siamensis), recorded as Critically Endangered
Giant barb (Catlocarpio siamensis). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Critically Endangered

Giant barb

Catlocarpio siamensis

Giant barb is a minnow in the family Cyprinidae (order Cypriniformes) — Catlocarpio siamensis, recorded as Critically Endangered.

Status
Critically Endangered
Scientific name
Catlocarpio siamensis
Taxonomy
Cypriniformes · Cyprinidae · Catlocarpio

The minnow

It may reach 3 m (9.8 ft) (although this claimed maximum length needs confirmation) and weigh up to 300 kg (660 lb). Among the cyprinids, only the golden mahseer can reach a comparable length, but it is a relatively slender fish that weighs far less.

Range and habitat

Giant barbs are usually seen in large pools along the edges of large rivers, but seasonally enter smaller canals, floodplains, and flooded forests. Young barbs are usually found in smaller tributaries and swamps, but can acclimate to living in ponds, canals, and swamps. In the lower Mekong basin, young giant barbs have been reported as occurring primarily in October.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

In crisis

Populations have declined drastically due to habitat loss and overfishing, and the giant barb is now considered critically endangered. The main threats are habitat loss (e.g., pollution and dams) and overfishing. The sharp population decline is well illustrated by catch data from Cambodia, where 200 tonnes of giant barbs were caught in 1964.

It was formerly an important fish in local catches below the Khone Phapheng Falls, but surveys between 1993 and 1999 only located a single small individual. Consequently, the giant barb is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Giant barb is Critically Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Giant barb, Wikidata item Q1513246. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Also in this catalog

Photograph of Vaquita (Phocoena sinus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Vaquita

Phocoena sinus
Photograph of Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Javan rhinoceros

Rhinoceros sondaicus
Photograph of Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Sumatran orangutan

Pongo abelii
Photograph of Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Axolotl

Ambystoma mexicanum

Quick answers

What is Giant barb?
Giant barb is a minnow in the family Cyprinidae (order Cypriniformes) — Catlocarpio siamensis.
What is the conservation status of Giant barb?
Critically Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Catlocarpio siamensis. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Giant barb live?
Giant barbs are usually seen in large pools along the edges of large rivers, but seasonally enter smaller canals, floodplains, and flooded forests.
Why is Giant barb in crisis?
The sharp population decline is well illustrated by catch data from Cambodia, where 200 tonnes of giant barbs were caught in 1964.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Catlocarpio siamensis?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Giant barb a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.