Microrasbora

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Microrasbora
Microrasbora kubotai
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Superclass: Osteichthyes
Class: Actinopterygii
Subclass: Neopterygii
Infraclass: Teleostei
Superorder: Ostariophysi
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Danioninae
Genus: Microrasbora
Annandale, 1918
Species

Microrasbora gatesi
Microrasbora kubotai
Microrasbora nana
Microrasbora rubescens
and see text

Microrasbora is a genus of small fishes. The generic name means "small Rasbora", however these fish appear to be more closely related to the danios than rasboras[1]. They inhabit mainly Thailand and Myanmar; Microrasbora rubescens has escaped from aquariums and is now an invasive species in many temperate regions, apparently benefitting from global warming.[verification needed]

This genus is not considered to be monophyletic. The status of "Microrasbora" erythromicron is currently uncertain; it seems to be intermediate between Microrasbora sensu stricto and Danio, together with the Celestial Pearl Danio (Celestichthys margaritatus). As the latter species was described too recently to be included in phylogenetic studies, the precise status of "M." erythromicron remains unresolved and the assertion that it belongs in Danio seems now spurious. It appears similar to the Celestichthys but does not seem to actually belong into that genus; most probably, it will eventually be separated in another monotypic genus.[2]

Remaining in Microrasbora are:

  • Microrasbora gatesi Herre, 1939 – Burmese Golden Rasbora
  • Microrasbora kubotai
  • Microrasbora nana Kottelat & Witte, 1999
  • Microrasbora rubescens Annandale, 1918 – Red Dwarf Rasbora
  • Microrasbora cf. rubescens "Hopong"[3]
  • Microrasbora cf. rubescens "Thuzari" – Glowlight Rasbora, Flame Red Rasbora; tentatively placed here[4]

Whether the supposed new species recently announced as "Microrasbora microphthalma"[5] belongs here - and indeed is a valid, undescribed taxon - is disputed[6]. As it has not yet been scientifically described, the name must not be written without quotation marks or in italics (see also nomen nudum). This fish - if it in fact belongs here - would constitute the first record of Microrasbora from China.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Mayden et al. (2007)
  2. ^ Mayden et al. (2007), Roberts (2007)
  3. ^ Roberts (2007)
  4. ^ Hellweg (2008)
  5. ^ Hong'e (2007)
  6. ^ petfrd.com: New Chinese Microrasbora. Version of 2007-DEC-12. Retrieved 2008-JAN-21.

[edit] References

  • Hellweg, Mike (2008): The Glowlight Rasbora (Microrasbora sp. "thuzari"). Retrieved 2008-JAN-23.
  • Hong'e, Mo (2007): New fish species discovered in China. Xinhua, 2007-DEC-09. Retrieved 2008-JAN-21.
  • Mayden, Richard L.; Tang, Kevin L.; Conway, Kevin W.; Freyhof, Jörg; Chamberlain, Sarah; Haskins, Miranda; Schneider, Leah; Sudkamp, Mitchell; Wood Robert M.; Agnew, Mary; Bufalino, Angelo; Sulaiman, Zohrah; Miya, Masaki; Saitoh, Kenji & He, Shunping (2007): Phylogenetic relationships of Danio within the order Cypriniformes: a framework for comparative and evolutionary studies of a model species. Journal of Experimental Zoology B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution 308B(5): 1-13. doi:10.1002/jez.b.21175 (HTML abstract)
  • Roberts, Tyson R. (2007): The "Celestial pearl danio", a new genus and species of colourful minute cyprinid fish from Myanmar (Pisces: Cypriniformes). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 55(1): 131-140. PDF fulltext