Genetic investigations have shown that there is not only one harlequin barb, but several similar forms, which still need to be scientifically investigated.
We have been importing beautiful wild collected specimens from southern Thailand for several years. Their colouring differs significantly from “normal” harlequin barbs: a blue line above the wedge, an orange spot on the base of the tail, and the absence of the typical black vertical stripe behind the gill cover clearly show that these harlequin barbs are a different species.
This southern Thai species has now (May 2020) been formally described scientifically as Trigonostigma truncata.
For our customers. the animals have code 452953 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Literature:
Tan, H.H.(2020): Trigonostigma truncata, a new species of harlequin rasbora from Malay Peninsula (Teleostei: Danionidae). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 68: 421-433.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
