Order : Cypriniformes
Family : CYPRINIDAE
Species : Desmopuntius hexazona
Maximum Length : 5.5 cm

This small species of tiger barb, measuring just 5.5 cm in total length, was originally described from Sumatra. It also occurs in occurs in parts of Thailand (southern Thailand?, Mekong Basin?), Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Borneo.

It inhabits well-shaded, acidic, forest streams in freshwater swamp forest, and is active in the mid and upper water levels.

Its body shape is rhomboid, and laterally compressed. Its overall colour is orange, with six equally-spaced, vertical, dark bands on the flanks. The frontmost band passes obliquely through the eye, and the rear band is at the base of the tail fin. The third band extends onto the dorsal fin.


Figs 1 to 3 : Examples from a shallow, acidic stream in freshwater swamp forest, Singapore, where this species is considered endangered.

Fig 4 : Typical small stream in dense, freshwater swamp forest - a typical habitat for Desmopuntius hexazona.


References :

Fishbase - Desmopuntius hexazona