| Chinese Bahaba | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Sciaenidae |
| Genus: | Bahaba |
| Species: | B. taipingensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Bahaba taipingensis (Herre, 1932) |
|
The Chinese Bahaba (Bahaba taipingensis) is a species of fish in the Sciaenidae family. It is found in China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Its natural habitats are open seas, shallow seas, subtidal aquatic beds, rocky shores, and estuarine waters. It is threatened by massive overfishing and has been listed as endangered and/or commercially extinct. The fishing is prompted by the immense monetary value placed on the swim bladders of this fish. In some markets, notably the Chinese markets, a good specimen swim bladder fetches more than its weight in gold. Habitat loss has also been implicated although has yet to be proven.