Order : Cypriniformes
Family : DANIONIDAE
Species : Luciosoma setigerum

Maximum length (excluding tail fin) : 26 cm
(Fishbase, 2026)

Text updated : October, 2026.

The genus Luciosoma comprises 5 species of streamlined, fast-swimming fishes all of which occur in Southeast Asia (Fishbase, 2026).

Luciosoma setigerum (Apollo Shark-minnow) is a pelagic predator of larger streams and rivers, with a tolerance of variable water conditions, including rapids.

Reaching a maximum of 26 cm in length (excluding the tail fin), it can be identified in the field by the single, dark lateral row of spots along the flank which merge and thicken posteriorly into a thick black band, which then extends along the upper lobe of the forked tail fin. A narrower, disconnected, dark band runs along the lower lobe of the tail fin. 

The diet of Luciosoma setigerum mainly comprises other fish, but probably also insects which have fallen into the stream or river.

According to IUCN (Lumbantobing, 2019), Luciosoma setigerum occurs in the Lower Mekong basin, the Malay Peninsula (southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia), Indonesia (central-eastern Sumatra, west and central Kalimantan and Java) and Sarawak, and possibly eastern Myanmar.

Figs 1 and 2 : Two examples of Luciosoma setigerum at Sungai Tahan, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia.

Fig 3 : Turbulent, fast-flowing riverine habitat at Sungai Tahan, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia.


References and links :

Lumbantobing, D. 2019. Luciosoma setigerum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T181231A89813173.

Fishbase - Luciosoma setigerum