How to Identify Calbasu

To identify Calbasu (Labeo calbasu), look at these key features.

Physical Characteristics

Body shape

elongated

Coloration

Adults are typically dark blackish-green to bluish-black on the dorsal side, fading to a lighter, sometimes silvery, belly. Fins are often dark, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially in breeding males. Juveniles may have a more silvery appearance.

Scale type

cycloid

Mouth position

inferior

Distinctive features

Prominent snout with a pair of short rostral barbels and a pair of maxillary barbels., Thick, fleshy lips with a distinct inner fold., Large, cycloid scales., Deep body, compressed laterally., Absence of a dorsal spine.

Dorsal fin

Single, long dorsal fin with 12-16 branched rays. Originates anterior to the pelvic fins.

Tail fin

Deeply forked caudal fin with pointed lobes.

Pectoral fin

Pectoral fins are relatively long, reaching or nearly reaching the pelvic fins.

Distinctive fins

Anal fin short, with 5 branched rays. Pelvic fins originate below the anterior part of the dorsal fin.

Identification Tips

1. 1

   Coloration

   Adults are distinctly dark, often blackish-green to bluish-black, which helps distinguish them from lighter-colored Labeo species.

2. 2

   Snout and Barbels

   Possesses a prominent, often tuberculated snout and two pairs of short barbels (rostral and maxillary), which are key identification features.

3. 3

   Lips

   Thick, fleshy lips with a distinct inner fold are characteristic.

4. 4

   Dorsal Fin Ray Count

   The dorsal fin typically has 12-16 branched rays, a count that can help differentiate it from some other Labeo species.

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