Order : Cypriniformes
Family : CYPRINIDAE
Species : Hampala macrolepidota
Maximum Length : 70 cm

The Sebarau, or 'Hampala Barb', inhabits various aquatic habitats including clear rivers and streams, which typically flow through intact forest, with either silty, sandy or gravelly substrates. The species can also adapt to more muddy, lowland rivers and reservoirs. It is considered to be a freshwater migratory species.

The word 'Hampala' derives from the Javanese name for the species. In Malaysia it is called the 'Sebarau', the name used here.

This fish has large, dark-edged silver to golden- brown scales. Its body is laterally compressed, and its head is large. Its fins are orange to red, and the tail fin is edged with a black border. Typically there is a dark patch below the dorsal fin, which may extend some way down the flank almost reaching the pelvic fin, however in some specimens this feature may be rather faint. The eyes are located towards the top of the head.

The species predates other, smaller fishes as well as aquatic invertebrates.

The Sebarau occurs in the Mekong Basin (which passes through or borders Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam), the Chao Phraya Basin (Thailand), and various river systems in Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra,  Java and Borneo.

Fig 1 : Typical specimen from Sungai Relau - a clear, lowland river at Taman Negara, Peninsular Malaysia.

Fig 2 : Clear water river at Sungai Relau.

Fig 3 : Part of a large shoal of Sebarau in an area of variable sandy and stony substrate.

Fig 4 : Small example from Ulu Chepor, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia.


References and links :

Fishbase - Hampala macrolepidota