Freshwater Fishes of Northern Vietnam

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FRESHWATER
FISHES
OF
NORTHERN
VIETNAM
A preliminary check-list
of the fishes known

or expected to
occur in northern Vietnam
with comments on
systematics
and nomenclature
Maurice Kottelat
June 2001
Environment and Social
Development Sector Unit
East
Asia and Pacific Region
The World Bank
Freshwater Fishes of Northern Vietnam
A preliminary check-list of the fishes known or expected to occur in northern Vietnam with
comments
on systematics and
nomenclature
Maurice Kottelat, June 2001
Route de la Baroche 12, Case Postale 57, CH-2952 Comol, Switzerland (address for correspondence); and
Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260.
Email:
Report prepared under World Bank Swiss Consultant Trust Funds for the largely Danish-funded Freshwater
Biodiversity Overlay to Support the Vietnam National Hydropower Study as part of the World Bank Environment
Department's
Global Overlays Program. Some photographs were obtained
during different activites and the author
retains all rights over all photographs included in this report.
This report is a published work in the sense of art. 8.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. It is
issued for the purpose of providing a public and permanent record (art. 8.1.1).
This publication was developed and produced by the Environment and Social Development Unit (EASES), East Asia

and Pacific Region of the World Bank. The Environment, Rural Development, and Social Development Units are
part of the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (ESSD) Network.
Papers in the EASES Discussion Paper Series are not formal publications of the World Bank. They are published and
circulated to encourage discussion and comment within the development community. The findings, interpretations,
judgments, and conclusions expressed in this paper are those of the author and should not be attributed to the World
Bank, to its affiliated organizations, or to members of the Board of Executive Directors or the governments they
represent.
Copies of this paper are available from:
Tony Whitten, Senior Biodiversity Specialist, EASES, Room MC8-209, The World Bank, 1818 H St NW,
Washington DC 20433, USA;
Freshwater Fishes of Northern
Vietnam
Table
of Contents
Part I
A preliminary check-list of the
fishes known or expected to occur
in northern
Vietnam with comments
on systematics and nomenclature
I
Bibliography
65
Part 2
Annex 1: Translation
of selected parts of Mai D. Y.
(1978), Identification
of the freshwater fishes
of northern Vietnam
74

Annex 2: Nomenclatural status
of names of Vietnamese fishes
proposed
by Nguyen
& Doan ("Hao & Hoa")
(1969)
113
Annex 3: Reproduction
of the original Nguyen
and Doan (1969)
123
Color Plates
ii Part 1: Freshwater Fishes of Northern Vietnam
Acknowledgements
I am pleased to thank the following persons for their help at different stages of this work: Pham Duc
Tien, Nguyen Huu Dung, Mai Quang Phuc and Ngo Sy Van assisted in the field; Ng Heok Hee (ZRC,
UMMZ) identified some of the catfishes; Fang Fang (NRM) translated some Chinese texts; Jean-Claude
Hureau, Guy Duhamel, Patrice Pruvost, Monique Margout (MNHN), Sven Kullander, Erik Ahlander
(NRM), Yang Jung-Xing and Cui Gui-Hua (KIZ) provided access to material under their care and various
museum and library facilities; Sven Kullander (NRM) and Peter K. L. Ng (ZRC) commented on the
manuscript; Zhou Wei provided information on the distribution of some species in the Chinese part of the
Hong River basin. Mai Dinh Yen provided welcome insights into the history of Vietnamese ichthyology
and also access to Vietnamese literature.
Pham Duc Tien also translated sections of Mai (1978) which is presented as Annex 1.
This publication reports results from work conducted in 1998 as part of an aquatic biodiversity
assessment of the Halong Bay World Heritage Site (northern Vietnam) funded through Swiss Consultant
Trust Funds at the World Bank and in 1999-2000 as part of the Freshwater Biodiversity Overlay to
Support the Vietnam National Hydropower Study, a project of the World Bank Environment
Department's Global Overlays
Program, with financial support from Danish and Swiss

Consultant Trust
Funds, and executed by WWF Indochina Programme.
This report would never have come to light without the efforts, help, tenacity and friendship of Tony
Whitten of the World Bank who planned and organised the work, and made enormous efforts to get all
possible benefit from it.
Freshwater Fishes of Northern
Vietnam
i
Foreword
This report is a product of one of the projects in the World Bank's Global Overlays Program primanrly
financed by the Danish government, though in this case funds from the Swiss government were used
to support Dr. Maurice Kottelat's contribution. This particular Overlay project concerned freshwater
biodiversity in the context of the Vietnamese National Hydropower Study. It was coordinated by the
National Environmental Agency on behalf of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment,
with technical assistance provided by the World Wide Fund for Nature's office in Hanoi. The
objective of the project was to enable water resource planning, particularly with regard to
hydropower, to proceed in full consideration of freshwater biodiversity functions and their broad
economic values.
Maurice Kottelat has used photographs taken during the curtailed field work together with his
unparalleled knowledge of the fish of the region to write a critical analysis of the fish fauna of
northern Vietnam. Despite data limitations, this report will be essential reference for those
undertaking the biodiversity work as part of environmental assessments (EAs) for any project
affecting water in the area.
This is the first time such a report has been published by the World Bank, but we do so in recognition
of the foundational role of taxonomy in sustainable development, of the importance of freshwater
biodiversity in the lives of the riparian people of Vietnam (many of them among the poorest of the
citizens), and of the need to understand the biological resources for rational planning. We will ensure
that, at least in work connected to projects financed by the World Bank, full account is taken of this
report, and we look forward to being able one day to producing a user-friendly field guide to these
animals as the World Bank has supported elsewhere in the region.

Andrew Steer Zafer Ecevit
Vietnam Country Director Sector Director
East Asia and Pacific Region Environment and Social Development Unit
East Asia and Pacific Region
Part I Freshwater Fishes of Northern Vietnam
Part 1
A Preliminary Check-list of the Fishes Known or Expected to
Occur in Northern Vietnam with Comments on Systematics and
Nomenclature
Abstract
268 native species are recorded from the freshwaters of Vietnam (from the Ca River basin northwards)
and immediately adjacent waters in China and Laos. The systematic status and nomenclature of all
species have been reevaluated. Compared to the last synthesis of the fishes known from
the same area,
20 (10 %) of the 203 formerly recognised species are invalid, 85 (42 %) additional species are
recognised, and the names of 150 (74 %) of the then-known species are shown to be incorrect (either
because of misidentifications, or for various nomenclatural reasons). The fish fauna of the Chinese
Provinces of Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan has been compared with the Vietnamese fish
fauna where relevant in an attempt to make the nomenclatures used in the two countries compatible
and in agreement with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Some of the systematic
findings and nomenclatural changes are summarised in Tables 1 and 2.
One assumes that when [experimental biologists] state that they
used 5 ml ethanol, they were not using 6 ml of methanol;
and yet, if the experimental animal is wrongly identified,
what are the grounds for such an assumption?
Kevan (1973: 1212)
This report is a product of the World Bank allow water to be used but not at the expense
Environment Department's 'Global Overlays of the freshwater biodiversity,
Program'. This particular project concerned * demonstrating the incremental benefits of

freshwater biodiversity in the context
of the freshwater biodiversity,
Vietnamese National Hydropower
Study. The * estimating
the incremental (mitigation) costs
objective of the
project was to enable water
of sustainable management of freshwater
resource planning, particularly with
regard to biodiversity
in areas designated as suitable
for
hydropower,
to proceed in full consideration of
different types of hydropower and other
freshwater
biodiversity. This was to have been
infrastructure-orientated developments,
and
achieved by:
* holding a national workshop
to discuss,
* understanding the
distribution of Vietnamese improve
and disseminate ideas and findings.
fish and other organisms within and beyond
the country,
Unfortunately,
problems (mainly the inability
* providing recommendations

for appropriate to export
specimens temporarily for identification)
design and implementation of
hydropower and precluded completion
of the work. Despite this,
I
other water use programs
or projects that have used the
photographs taken during the brief
2 Part L- Freshwater Fishes of Northern Vietnam
field work, together with my knowledge of the work and research. It also interferes with scientific
fish of the region to write a critical analysis of the exchanges. Exchange of material, data and
fish fauna of northern Vietnam. I must stress
that knowledge is necessary for good management
of
this analysis based primarily on photographs has natural resources, and is beneficial for the country
severe limitations, primarily that it is virtually in the long run; if one is able to benefit from the
impossible in this way to identify small-sized results of research conducted abroad, there is no
species with any confidence and that these small need to replicate it and this saves time, effort and
species are the most likely to be endemics with money. The present work had to be done without
limited distributions, and thus of the greatest physical access to the samples I obtained in the
biodiversity value. As a result their number and field and this obviously has limited the
diversity is probably grossly underestimated in conclusions. In many instances, very little
this report. Nevertheless, the numerous additional work is needed to solve complex
nomenclatural and taxonomic problems which problems, but this last step has not been possible.
have been identified on the basis of the
photographs alone is an indication of the desperate 2. A significant part
of the north Vietnamese
need for critical analysis of this fauna by trained fish fauna is shared with southern China.
specialists with transnational experience. Although significantly more advanced, in many

aspects the state of our knowledge of the Chinese
The purpose of the present
check-list is to fish fauna is similar. It is therefore not surprising
present an overview of our present knowledge on that many species are known under completely
the diversity, systematics and nomenclature of the different names on either side of the border. I have
freshwater fishes of northern Vietnam. It also attempted to make these two sets of data
includes a selected bibliography of the compatible.
publications of greatest immediate concern when
working on this fauna. The list in this report includes all the fishes
which have been recorded in the scientific
Although two books have already been literature or observed by myself in Vietnam north
published on the fishes of northern Vietnam of (and including) the Ca River basin. It also
(Chevey & Lemasson, 1937; Mai, 1978) they are includes species recorded from within a few
outdated and misleading, and it appears that the kilometres upstream or downstream of the
fish fauna of Vietnam is one of the most poorly Vietnamese border in Laos (Kottelat, 2001) and in
known in the World, both quantitatively and Yunnan Province of China (Chu & Chen, 1989,
qualitatively. 1990); similar data were not available for Guangxi
Province of China. Records based on the literature
As a result of the war and politics, Vietnamese are included but only if they seem reasonably
ichthyology has evolved with little contact with reliable; that is, either there are ways to confirm
the outside world and this has had unfortunate the identification from the document itself or from
consequences. Ichthyological work published in voucher specimens, or the author(s) is (are) known
Vietnam is very difficult to reconcile with work to be well experienced. Fisheries records have not
published outside the country. The first task is to been taken into consideration since
they tend to be
adjust the nomenclature used in Vietnam to ensure unreliable and/or too superficial for serious
that it conforms to the International Code of biodiversity work.
Zoological Nomenclature [ICZN hereafter]
(International Commission on Zoological A very small area of northern Vietnam drains
Nomenclature, 1999). The situation is aggravated to the Mekong basin near Dien Bien Phu, Lai

by two factors. Chau Province. There is apparently no data on the
fishes of that area. Data on the fishes of adjacent
1. Decisions of a strictly scientific nature areas in Laos can be found in Kottelat (2001).
can be influenced by non-scientific considerations,
and this negatively impacts the efficiency of field
Part I. Freshwater Fishes of Northern Vietnam 3
Pellegrin (1934) records several species from material from northern Vietnam and immediately
Hanoi which have not been reported again from adjacent areas. The spellings in the synonymies
northern Vietnam. As they all belong to the follow exactly those in the cited publications; this
Sundaic fauna (the fauna of the land masses explains the apparent inconsistencies. The absence
formerly connected across the Sunda shelf: of a colon (:) between a scientific name and an
Borneo, Java, Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, author name indicates that this is an original
Mekong basin), I assume that the material has description (that is, a new scientific name
been mislabelled and may have been obtained in proposed in this publication); the presence of a
southern Vietnam. These species are: Macrones colon indicates subsequent use of a name
wolffi [now Mystus wolffii], Datnioides proposed in earlier publications.
microlepis, Ambassis wolffi [Parambassis wolffii],
Catoprafasciata [Pristolepisfasciata], The discussions on the status of Chinese
Trichopodus leeri [Trichogaster leerii], and species of the family Cyprinidae is based to some
Microphis boaja [Doryichthys boaja]. extent on Chen (1998). In many cases I have
followed these conclusions, but I have to indicate
Methods some reservations because I have a strong feeling
Field observations were conducted in Quang Ninh that the species diversity is severely
province in October 1998 and in the Lo River underestimated for many groups. The second part
basin in December 1999. Detailed locality data of this monograph on Chinese cyprinids (Yue,
and discussion of the material from the 1998 2000) arrived as this report was being completed
survey
will be given in a separate paper. For and could
not be taken into account. A quick
bureaucratic reasons, the material obtained during evaluation suggests, however, that it does not

the 1999
survey could not be examined and affect the present conclusions.
identifications and discussions are based solely on
photographs and raw field observations, which
explains why many comments are written in the Annexes
conditional tense or with reservations. Part 2 of this report comprises selected sections of
the book on north Vietnamese fishes by Mai
Abbreviations used are: ICZN, International (1978) which were translated while preparing this
Code on Zoological Nomenclature; KIZ, Kunming report. This translation forms Annex 1. A paper
Institute of Zoology, Kunming; MNHN, Museum usually cited as Hao & Hoa (1969) (here Nguyen
National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris; SL, Standard & Doan, 1969) presents a number of
length. nomenclatural problems. These problems were
solved in a separate analysis which forms Annex
The species concept used herein is the 2. The original Nguyen and Doan paper is very
phylogenetic species concept (see Cracraft; 1989; difficult to obtain and so is here reproduced as
Mayden & Wood, 1995; Kottelat, 1997). The Annex 3.
synonymies include only references based on
Part I. Freshwater Fishes of Northern Vietnam
4
Table 1. Nomenclatural acts and changes made in this report
New synonymies:
Glyptosternon
minutum Mai, 1978,
sinultaneous synonyrn
Acanthorhodeus
dayeus Mai,
1978, tentative junior
of Glyptosternon
quadriocellatum Mai, 1978
synonym of A. polyspinus Holcik, 1972

Lissochilus longibarbis Nguyen & Doan, 1969, tentative
Acrossocheilus
iridescens yuanjiangensis
Wu & Lin, 1975 junior
synonym of Poropuntius
alloiopleurus (Vaillant,
junior synonym
of A. i. microstoma (Pellegrin & Chevey, 1893)
1936)
Microphysogobio buas
Mai, 1978, tentative synonym of
Altigena bibarbata
Mai, 1978, junior synonym
of Bangana Microphysogobio
yunnanensis
(Yao & Yang, 1977)
lemassoni Pellegrin & Chevey, 1936
Microphysogobio giganteus Mai, 1978, tentative synonym
Altigena dorsoarcus Mai, 1978,
junior synonym of
of Pseudogobio guilinensis
Yao & Yang, 1977
Bangana
xanthogenys (Pellegrin
& Chevey,
1936 Nemacheilus
laterivittatus
Zhu & Wang,
1985, junior
Altigena

tetrabarbata Mai, 1978, tentative synonym
of synonym of Schistura caudofurca
(Mai, 1978)
Bangana Ixanthogenys (Pellegrin & Chevey, 1936) Onychostoma brevicephalus Nguyen & Doan, 1969, junior
Ancherythroculter lini
Luo, 1994, tentative synonym
of A. synonym of
Scaphiodonichthys macracanthus
(Pellegrin &
daovantieni
(Banarescu, 1967)
Chevey,
1936)
Arius
fangi Chaux, 1949, tentative junior synonym of
Onychostoma microcorporus Nguyen & Doan,
1969, junior
Arius arenarius Muller & Troschel, 1849
synonym of Scaphiodonichthys acanthopterus (Fowler,
Barbatula uniformis Mai, 1978, tentative
synonym of 1934)
Schistura incerta (Nichols, 1931) Onychostoma vietnamensis Banarescu, 1967, synonym of
Barbodes
(Barbodes) huangchuchieni
rhomboides Wu & Onychostoma
lepturus (Boulenger,
1899)
Lin,
1977, tentative junior synonym
of Poropuntius

Opsariichthys
elegans Pellegrin & Chevey,
1934, junior
alloiopleurus (Vaillant, 1893) synonym
ofParazaccofasciatus (Koller, 1927)
Barbus bonvaloti Vaillant,
1893, junior synonym of Paradaniops Nguyen & Doan,
1969, junior synonym of
Folifer brevifilis
(Peters, 1881)
Opsarius McClelland, 1838
Botia gigantea Mai, 1978, junior synonym
of Botia Paradaniops macropterus Nguyen &
Doan, 1969, junior
pulchra
Wu, 1939
synonym of Opsarius
pulchellus (Srnith, 1931)
Botia
hexafurca Mai, 1978, junior
synonym of Botia
Parazacco vuquangensis
Nguyen, 1995, junior
synonym of
robusta Wu, 1939
Parazaccofasciatus
(Koller, 1927)
Carassioides
cantonensis melanes Mai,
1978, junior Percocypris

retrodorsalis Cui & Chu,
1990, junior synonym
synonym of Carassioides
acuminatus (Richardson,
1846) of Percocypris tchangi
(Pellegrin & Chevey, 1936)
Culter recurvirostris
Sauvage, 1884, junior
synonym of Pseudolaubuca
sinensis vietnamensis
Mai, 1978, junior
Culterflavipinnis Tirant,
1883
synonym of Pseudolaubuca
sinensis Bleeker, 1865
Cyprinion orientalis
Vaillant, 1893, junior
synonym of Puntius
ocellatus Mai, 1978,
junior synonym of Puntius
Carassioides acuminatus
(Richardson, 1846)
brevis (Bleeker,
1850)
Daniops
nammuensis Nguyen
& Doan, 1969, junior
Rasborinus Oshinia, 1920,
junior synonym of Metzia
Jordan

synonyrn of Opsarius
pulchellus (Srnith, 1931)
& Evermann,
1902
Garra alticorpora
Chu & Cui, 1987,
tentative junior
Saurogobio dabryi vietnmamensis
Mai, 1978,
junior
synonym
of Garra poilanei Petit
& Tchang, 1933
synonym of Saurogobio
immaculatus Koller, 1927
Garra angulostomata
Mai, 1978, tentative
junior Siniperca
robusta Yu, Kwang &
Ni, 1986, junior synonym
synonym
of Garra caudofasciata Pellegrin
& Chevey, of
Siniperca vietnamensis Mai,
1978
1936
Squalidus
chankaensis vietnamensis
Banarescu
& Nalbant,

Garra cyclostomata Mai,
1978, junior synonym of Garra 1964, junior synonym
of Squalidus atromaculatus Nichols
poilanei Petit & Tchang, 1933 & Pope, 1927
Garra
obturostris Mai, 1978, junior
synonym of Garra
Vanmanenia Hora, 1932, junior
synonym of Homalosoma
gracilis Pellegrin & Chevey, 1936 Boulenger, 1901
Part 1: Freshwater
Fishes ofNorthern
Vietnam
5
Varicorhinus
argentatus
Nguyen & Doan,
1969,
New
substitute names:
tentative
synonym
of Onychostoma
lepturus
(Boulenger,
Acheilognathus
elongatoides,
substitute
for Pararhodeus
1899)

elongatus
Mai,
1978, a
junior secondary
homonym
of
Varicorhinus
erythrogenys
Nguyen
& Doan, 1969,
Acanthorhodeus
elongatus Regan,
1908)
tentative
synonym
of Onychostoma
lepturus
(Boulenger,
Parabotia
dubia,
substitute
for Botia
elongata
Mai,
1978,
1899)
a junior primary
homonym
of Botia elongata
Bleeker,

1870
Nomen oblitum:
Albula
Osbeck, 1765
Glyptothorax
spectrum,
substitute for
Glyptosternon
minutum
Mai,
1978, a
junior secondary
homonym
of
Names not
available
Glyptothorax
minutum Hora,
1921
Carpio
cantonensis
Heincke, 1892,
proposed
for an
hybrid
Neotype
designations
for:
Cyprinus
acuminatus

Richardson,
1846
Homonyms:
Cyprinus
carassioides Richardson,
1846
Hemibarbus
longianalis
Nguyen
& Doan, 196, primary
junior homonym
of H. longianalis
Kimura, 1943
Lectotype
designation
for:
Pararhodeus
elongatus Mai,
1978, junior
secondary
Onychostoma
macracanthus
Pellegrin
& Chevey, 1936
homonym
of Acanthorhodeus
elongatus
Regan, 1908)
Botia elongata
Mai, 1978, junior

primnary homonym
of
First reviser actions:
Botia elongata
Bleeker, 1870
Cyprinus acuminatus
Richardson,
1846 has precedence
over
C carassioides
Richardson,
1846
G,lyptosternon
minutum
Mai,
1978,
junior secondary
Glyptosternon
quadriocellatum
Mai,
1978 has
precedence
homonym
of
Glyptothorax
minutum
Hora,
1921.
over
G. minutum

Mai,
1978
Part 1: Freshwater Fishes of Northern Vietnam 6
Table 2. Fishes of northern Vietnam and immediately adjacent waters
List of native species presently known and comparison with nomenclature used in Mai (1978). - indicates the 86
species not recorded by Mai (1978). ? indicates species whose identity cannot be decided on the basis of published
or other available data. * indicates the 54 species whose names in Mai (1978) correspond to present systematic and
nomenclature.
Names used in Mai (1978) Name in present report
Family Notopteridae
*Notopterus notopterus I Notopterus notopterus
Family Elopidae
Elops saurus 2 ? Elops machnata
Family Anguillidae
*Anguillajaponica 3 Anguillajaponica
4 ? Anguilla marmorata
Family Clupeidae
Clupanodon punctatus 5 ? Nematalosa nasus
*Clupanodon thrissa 6 Clupanodon thrissa
Macrura reevessii 7 ? Tenualosa reevesii
Family Engraulididae
*Coilia grayii 8 Coilia grayii
*Coilia mystus 9 Coilia mystus
Family Cyprinidae

10 Acheilognathus barbatulus
Pararhodeus elongatus 11 Acheilognathus elongatoides
Pararhodeus kyphus 12 Acheilognathus kyphus

13 Acheilognathus "lamus"

Acanthorhodeus longibarbatus 14 Acheilognathus longibarbatus
Acanthorhodeus macropterus 15 Acheilognathus macropterus
16 Acheilognathus aff. meridianus
? Acanthorhodeus dayeus 17 Acheilognathus polyspinus
Acanthorhodeus tonkinensis 18 Acheilognathus tonkinensis
19 Acheilognathus sp. A
Lissochilus clivosius 20 ? Acrossocheilus clivosius
Cyclocheilichthys iridescens 21 Acrossocheilus iridescens
Lissochilus lamus 22 Acrossocheilus lamus

23 Acrossocheilus xamensis
24 Anabarilius transmontanus
Erythroculter hypselonotus daovantieni 25 Ancherythroculter daovantieni
26 ? "Aphyocypris kikuchii
Altigena Lemassoni 27 Bangana lemassoni
Altigena bibarbata (same as 27)
Labeo tonkinensis 28 Bangana tonkinensis
Labeo Graffeuili (same as 28)
Altigena dorsoarcus 29 Bangana xanthogenys
Altigena tetrabarbata (same as 29)
Carassioides cantonensis cantonensis 30 Carassioides acuminatus
Carassioides c. melanes (same as 30)
*Carassius auratus 31 Carassius auratus
*Cirrhinus molitorella 32 Cirrhina molitorella
33 ? Crossocheilus
namlenensis
Erythroculter
recurvirostris 34 ? Culterflavipinnis
Part
1. Freshwater Fishes of Northern

Vietnam
7
Names used in Mai (1978)
Name in
present report
Erythroculter
ilishaeformis
35 ? Culter mongolicus
Culter erythropterus
36 Cultrichthys
erythropterus
Laichowcypris day
37
Cyprinus dai

38 ? Cyprinus hyperdorsalis
*Cyprinus exophthalmus
39 Cyprinus exophthalmus
*Cyprinus multitaeniatus
40
Cyprinus multitaeniatus
Cyprinus carpio
41 Cyprinus rubrofuscus
Garra microstoma
42 Discogobio microstoma
Elopichthys bambusa
43 Elopichthys bambusa
Tor brevifilis
44 Folifer brevif
lis

45 Garra apogon
Garra orientalis
46 Garra bourreti
*Garra caudofasciata
47 Garra caudofasciata
Garra angulostomata
(same as 47)
*Garra gracilis
48
Garra gracilis
Garra obturostris
(same as 48)
Garra
laichowensis
49 Garra laichowensis
Ageneiogarra imberba
50 Garra poilanei
Garra cyclostomata
(same as 50)
*Gobiobotia kolleri
51 Gobiobotia kolleri

52 Gobiobotia yuanjiangensis
Pseudohemiculter serrata
53
Hainania serrata
Hemibarbus labeo
54
Hemibarbus medius

Hemibarbus maculatus
55
Hemibarbus macracanthus

56 ? Hemibarbus cf. umbrifer
*Hemiculter
leucisculus
57 Hemiculter
leucisculus
Hypophthalmichthys
molitrix Harmandi
58 Hypophthalmichthys
harmandi
Lissochilus macrosquamatus
59 Hypsibarbus
macrosquamatus
Lissochilus
annamensis
60 Hypsibarbus
cf. wetmorei

61 ? "Lissochilus" brevispinus
*Luciobrama
macrocephalus
62 Luciobrama macrocephalus
*Luciocyprinus langsoni
63
Luciocyprinus langsoni
Megalobrama
Hoffmanni

64
Megalobrama terminalis

65 ? Metzia alba
66
? Metzia hautus
Ischikauia macrolepis
hainanensis
67 Metziaformosae
Rasborinus lineatus
lineatus
68 Metzia lineata
*Microphysogobio
kachekensis
69 Microphysogobio
kachekensis
Microphysogobio
labeoides (same as
69)
*Microphysogobio vietnamica
70 ? Microphysogobio
vietnamica
? Microphysogobio
buas
71
Microphysogobio
yunnanensis
*Mylopharyngodon
piceus
72 Mylopharyngodon

piceus
Crossocheilus benasi
73
Neolissochilus benasi

74 Neolissochilus
(?) sp. A
*Ochetobius
elongatus
75 Ochetobius elongatus
Crossocheilus elongatus
76 Onychostoma
elongatum

77 Onychostoma fangi
Onychostoma laticeps
78
Onychostoma gerlachi
Gymnostomus
lepturus
79
Onychostoma lepturus
? Gymnostomus
microstomus
(same as 79)
? Gymnostomus argentatus
(sarne as 79)
8 Part 1: Freshwater Fishes of Northern Vietnam
Names
used in Mai (1978)

Name in present
report
? Gymnostomus erythrogenys
(same as 79)
Onychostoma ovalis 80 Onychostoma ovale
Crossocheilus uniformis 81 Onychostoma uniforme
Onychostoma gerlachi 82 ? Onychostoma simum

83 Opsariichthys bea
Opsariichthys uncirostris 84 Opsariichthys bidens
Daniops nammuensis 85 Opsarius pulchellus
Daniops macropterus (same as 85)
*Osteochilus salsburyi 86 Osteochilus salsburyi
Megalobrama terminalis 87 Parabramis pekinensis
Parator macracanthus 88 Paraspinibarbus macracanthus
*Parator zonatus 89 Parator zonatus

90 Parazacco fasciatus
Zacco spilurus 91 Parazacco spilurus
92 Percocypris tchangi

93 Platysmacheilus cf. exiguus
Lissochilus krempfi 94 Poropuntius krempfi
? Lissochilus longibarbis 95 Poropuntius alloiopleurus
Procypris merus 96 Procypris mera
Microphysogobio giganteus 97 ? Pseudogobio guilinensis
*Pseudohemiculter dispar 98 Pseudohemiculter dispar
*Pseudohemiculter
hainanensis
99 Pseudohemiculter hainanensis

*Pseudolaubuca hotaya 100 ? Pseudolaubuca hotaya
Pseudolaubuca sinensis vietnamensis 101 Pseudolaubuca sinensis
Puntius ocellatus 102 Puntius brevis
*Puntius semifasciolatus
103 Puntius semifasciolatus
*Puntius takhoaensis 104 Puntius takhoaensis
Rasbora cephalotaenia steineri 105 Rasbora steineri
Epalzeorhynchus mutabilis 106 Rectoris mutabilis
Rectoris posehensis
107 Rectoris
posehensis
108 Rhodeus spinalis
Rhodeus ocellatus vietnamensis 109 ? Rhodeus vietnamensis
Pseudoperilampus hainanensis (same as 109)
Sarcocheilichthys nigripinnis 110 Sarcocheilichthys hainanensis
Saurogobio dabryi vietnamensis 111 Saurogobio
immaculatus
Onychostoma microcorpus 112 Scaphiodonichthys acanthopterus
Onychostoma macracanthus (same as 112)
Onychostoma brevicephalus 113 Scaphiodonichthys macracanthus
*Semilabeo notabilis 114 Semilabeo notabilis
Megalobrama macrops affinis 115 Sinibrama affinis
*Spinibarbichthys denticulatus 116 Spinibarbichthys denticulatus
Spinibarbus caldwelli 117 Spinibarbus hollandi

118 Squalidus cf. argentatus
Squalidus chankaensis vietnamensis 119 Squalidus atromaculatus
*Squaliobarbus curriculus 120 Squaliobarbus curriculus
121 Tanichthys albonubes
Toxabramis swinhonis Houdmeri 122 Toxabramis houdemeri

*Xenocypris argentea 123 Xenocypris macrolepis
*Xenocypris davidi 124 Xenocypris davidi
Plagiognathops microlepis 125 Xenocypris microlepis

126 ? Yaoshanicus dorsohorizontalis
Part I. Freshwater Fishes of Northern Vietnam 9
Names used in Mai (1978)
Name in present report
*Yaoshanicus kyphus 127 ? Yaoshanicus kyphus
*Yaoshanicus normalis 128 Yaoshanicus normalis
*Zacco platypus 129 Zacco platypus
* 130 Unnamed genus and species
Family Balitoridae
Homaloptera
(Balitora)
brucei
131
Balitora kwangsiensis

132 ? Balitora lancangjiangensis
Gastromyzon
leveretti
133 Beaufortia
leveretti

134 Beaufortia sp. A

135 Homalosoma crassicauda
Homaloptera multiloba 136 ? Homalosoma multiloba
Homaloptera tetraoloba 137 ? Homalosoma tetraloba

Homaloptera ventrosquamata 138 ? Homalosoma ventrosquamata
139 Homalosoma sp. A
140 Homalosoma sp. B
Homaloptera monoloba 141 ? Liniparhomaloptera
monoloba
Homaloptera disparis 142 Liniparhomaloptera disparis
Micronemacheilus pulcher 143 Micronemacheilus taeniatus

144 Oreonectes platycephalus

145 "Protomyzon" cf. sinensis
Gastromyzon buas 146 Pseudogastromyzon buas
Gastromyzon daon 147 ? Pseudogastromyzon daon
Gastromyzon elongatus 148 ? Pseudogastromyzon elongata
Gastromyzon loos 149 ? Pseudogastromyzon loos

150 Schistura callichromus
Barbatula caudofurca 151 Schistura caudofurca
Barbatula chapaensis
152 Schistura chapaensis
Barbatulafasciolata 153 Schistura cf. fasciolata
Barbatula hingi (same as 153)
154 Schisturafinis
Barbatula incerta 155 ? Schistura incerta
? Barbatula uniformis (same as 155)
Barbatula orthocauda 156 ? Schistura orthocauda
157
Schistura pervagata
158
Schistura sp. A

159 Schistura sp. B
160 Schistura sp. C
161 Schistura sp. D

162 Schistura
sp. E

163 Schistura sp. F
164
Schistura sp. G

165 Schistura
sp. H
*Sinogastromyzon chapaensis 166 Sinogastromyzon chapaensis
Sinogastromyzon minutus
167 Sinogastromyzon minutum
*Sinogastromyzon rugocauda 168 Sinogastromyzon rugocauda
*Sinogastromyzon tonkinensis 169 Sinogastromyzon
tonkinensis
170 Sinogastromyzon sp. A
171 Sinogastromyzon sp. B
Family Cobitidae
172 Acantopsis arenae
Botia gigantea
173 Botia pulchra
10
Part
1 Freshwater
Fishes ofNorthern

Vietnam
Names
used
in Mai
(1978)
Name
in present
report
Botia
hexafurca
174 Botia
robusta
?
Cobitis taenia
dolichorhynchus
175
Cobitis
cf. sinensis

176 Leptobotia cf.
elongata
*Misgurnus
anguillicaudatus
177
Misgurnus
anguillicaudatus
Misgurnus
mizolepis
178
Misgurnus

tonkinensis
Botia elongata
179
Parabotia
aff. fasciata
Family
Bagridae
*Hemibagrus
centralus
180 Hemibagrus
centralus
Hemibagrus
elongatus
181
Hemibagrus
hongus
Hemibagrus
elongatus
hongus
(same as
181)
182
Hemibagrus
pluriradiatus
*Hemibagrus
vietnamicus
183
Hemubagrus
vietnamicus

184
Hemibagrus sp. A
Pseudobagrus
gulio
185 Mystus
gulio
Pseudobagrus
fulvidraco
186
? Pelteobagrusfulvidraco
Pseudobagrus
virgatus
(same as
186)

187 Pelteobagrus
intermedius
Pseudobagrus
kyphus
188
Pelteobagrus
kyphus
Pseudobagrus
vachellii
189
Pelteobagrus
vachelli
190
Pelteobagrus
virgatus

Family
Cranoglanididae
Cranoglanis
sinensis
191
Cranoglanis
henrici
Family Siluridae
Parasilurus
cochinchinensis
192 Pterocryptis
cochinchinensis
Silurus
cucphuongensis
193
Pterocryptis
cucphuongensis
Silurus
wynaadensis
194
? Pterocryptis
gilberti
Parasilurus
asotus
195
Silurus
asotus
Family
Pangasiidae
:

196 Pangasius
krempfi
Family
Amblycipitidae
Liobagrus
nigricauda
197
Liobagrus
sp.
Family Sisoridae
Bagarius
bagarius
198
Bagarius
rutilus
Glyptosternon
hainanensis
199 Glyptothorax
honghensis
Glyptosternon
interspinalum
200
Glyptothorax
interspinalum
? Glyptosternon
pallozonum
(same as
200)
Glyptosternon
quadriocellatum

201
Glyptothorax
quadriocellatus
Glyptosternon
minutum
(same as
201)
Euchiloglanis
macrotrema
202
Pareuchiloglanis
macrotrema

203
Pareuchiloglanis
nebulifer
Parapseudecheneis
paviei
204
Pseudecheneis
paviei
Family Clariidae
*Clariasfuscus
205
Clariasfuscus
Family Ariidae
Arius sinensis
206
Arius arius
Family

Adrianichthyidae

207
Oryzias
cf curvinotus

208 Oryzias
pectoralis
Oryzias
latipes
209
Oryzias
sinensis
Family Salangidae
210
Neosalanx
brevirostris
Part ]. Freshwater Fishes ofNorthern Vietnam 11
Names used in Mai (1978) Name in present report
Protosalanx hyalocranius 211 Protosalanx chinensis
Salanx acuticeps 212 Salanx cuvieri
Leucosoma chinensis 213 Salanx reevesii
Family Herniramphidae
Hyporhamphus sinensis 214 Hyporhamphus limbatus
Family Belonidae
Tylosurus strongylurus 215 ? Tylosurus sp.

216 Xenentodon cf. canciloides
Family Synbranchidae
Fluta alba 217 Monopterus albus

Family Ambassidae
218 Ambassis vachellii
Family Lateolabracidae
219 Lateolabraxjaponicus
Family Percichthyidae
*Coreoperca whiteheadi 220 Coreoperca whiteheadi
Siniperca scherzeri kwangsiensis 221 Siniperca scherzeri
Siniperca chuatsi vietnamensis 222 Siniperca vietnamensis
Family Teraponidae
223 Teraponjjurbua
Family Odontobutididae
Percottus tonkinensis 224 ? Neodontobutis tonkinensis
225 Odontobutis potamophila

226 Sineleotris namxamensis

227 Sineleotris
sp. A
Family Gobiidae

228 Acentrogobius caninus
229 Bostrychus sinensis

230
Callamiana illota
*Eleotris fusca 231 Eleotris fusca
*Eleotris melanosoma
232 Eleotris melanosoma
*Eleotris oxycephala 233 Eleotris oxycephala
*Glossogobius giuris 234 Glossogobius giurus

Micropercops macropectoralis 235 "Micropercops" macropectoralis
Micropercops hotayensis 236 "Micropercops" hotayensis
237 Mugilogobius abei
238 Mugilogobius chulae
239 Papuligobius uniporus
240 Periophthalmus modestus
Percottus chalmersi 241 Philypnus chalmersi
242 Pseudogobiusjavanicus
243 Rhinogobius honghensis
244 Rhinogobius duospilus
Rhinogobius hadropterus
245 Rhinogobius giurinus
*Rhinogobius leavelli 246 Rhinogobius leavelli
247 Rhinogobius milleri
248 Rhinogobius nammaensis
249 Rhinogobius vermiculatus
250 Rhinogobius sp. A
12
Part 1: Freshwater Fishes
of Northern Vietnam
Names
used in Mai (1978)
Name in Present
report

251 Rhinogobius
sp. B

252 Rhinogobius sp. C
253 Rhinogobius sp. D

254 Rhinogobius
sp.
E
Family Anabantidae
*Anabas
testudineus
255 Anabas testudineus
Family Osphronnemidae
*Macropodus
opercularis
256
Macropodus opercularis
257 Trichogaster
trichopterus
Family Channidae
*Channa
asiatica
258 Channa
asiatica
Ophiocephalus
gachua
259 Channa
gachua
Ophiocephalus maculatus
260
Channa maculata
Ophiocephalus striatus
261 Channa striata
Family Mastacembelidae

*Mastacembelus armatus
262 Mastacembelus
armatus
Mastacembelus aculeatus
263 Sinobdella
sinensis
Family Soleidae
*Tephrinectes sinensis
264 Tephrinectes
sinensis
Family Cynoglossidae

265 Cynoglossus microlepis

266 Cynoglossus purpureomaculatus
*Cynoglossus
trigrammus
267
Cynoglossus trigrammus
Family Tetraodontidae
Fugu ocellatus
268 Takifugu ocellatus
Part I1 Freshwater Fishes of Northern Vietnam 13
Family NOTOPTERIDAE Remarks. The identity of the species listed as A.
bengalensis by Nguyen et al. (1999: 26) from Vu
Notopterus notopterus (Pallas, 1769) Quang is not clear.
(Fig. 1) The familly Anguillidae has been revised by Ege
(1939). The species which he called A. nebulosa (of
Notopterus notopterus: Mai, 1978: 15 which A. bengalensis is possibly a senior synonym, but
Notopterus notopterus: Nguyen, Nguyen & Le, 1999: 26 this involves complicated taxonomic and nomenclatural

(Vu Quang) problems which will not be discussed here) is known
only from the Indian Ocean, from the African coast to
Remarks. The family Notopteridae has been revised northern Sumatra, so that it seems very unlikely that this
by Roberts (1992). species occurs in Vietnam. Anguilla nebulosa (or A.
bengalensis) is distinguished, among other characters,
by its mottled body. Another species with mottled body
known from throughout the Indo-Pacific region is A.
Family ELOPIDAE marmorata
(Ege, 1939: 88, fig. 15). The species has
already been recorded from central Vietnam (for
? Elops machnata (Forsskal,
1775) example from Hue by Chevey, 1936b: 130) and if an eel
with a mottled body exists in the area, I expect that it is
Elops saurus: Mai, 1978: 6 this species.
Remarks. The identity of the species reported as
Elops saurus
by Mai (1978: 6) is not
clear. The family
Family CLUPEIDAE
Elopidae has been reviewed by Whitehead (1962).
The
genus Elops includes 6 species world wide. Elops saurus ? Nematalosa nasus (Bloch, 1795)
is known only from the Western Atlantic Ocean, thus
Mai's identification is extremely unlikely. Using ? Clupanodon punctatus: Mai, 1978: 11
Whitehead's identification key, the 100-106 lateral line
scales indicated by Mai lead to E. saurus, E. affinis (a Remarks. The identity of the species recorded as
species from the Pacific Coast of Central America)
or E. Clupanodonpunctatus by Mai (1978: 11) is not clear.
senegalensis (a species from the Atlantic Ocean along A synopsis of the family Clupeidae has been published
the coasts of western Africa). by Whitehead (1985). The correct name for the species

Whitehead recognises two Indo-Pacific species (E. often recorded as Clupanodon punctatus is Konosirus
machnata and E. hawaiensis), distinguished by the punctatus. This species is known along the northwestern
number of vertebrae
(63-64, vs. 68-70) and mouth Pacific coast from Korea until Japan and Hong Kong.
morphology (lower jaw projecting and covering anterior There is no authenticated record south of Hong Kong.
part of premaxillary tooth-band when mouth is
closed, In addition, Mai's figure shows a fish with a appearance
vs. lower jaw included, whole premaxillary
tooth-band quite different from the one illustrated
by Whitehead,
exposed). Mai's figure
shows the lower jaw slightly with its deeper body,
blunt head and clearly inferior
projecting
anteriorly and, if this detail is accurate, this mouth, all
characters which disagree with the diagnosis
suggest that this species could be E. machnata. of Konosirus, but agree well with that of the genus
Nematalosa. Of the 9 known species of Nematalosa,
four have been recorded from the coasts of the South
Family ANGUILLIDAE
China Sea: N come,
a marine, pelagic
species; N.
galatheae, a marine species entering freshwater, known
Anguillajaponica Temminck &
Schlegel, 1847 from southern Vietnam
but with a distinctive colour
pattern; N. japonica, a marine species; and N. nasus, a
Anguilla japonica:
Chevey, 1935: 1422 (Thanh

Tri, marine species
known to enter at least some
estuaries
near Hanoi), 1936a: 66 (Thanh
Tri near Hanoi) and known
from the Persian Gulf to southern Japan. On
Anguillajaponica:
Chevey & Lemasson,
1937: 114 the
basis of similarities between
Mai's figure and the
Anguillajaponica: Mai,
1978: 280 data in Whitehead
(1985: 249), I tentatively identify
this species as N. nasus. This needs to be confirmed by
? Anguilla marmorata Quoy &
Gaimard, 1824 critical examination of carefully preserved
samples.
Anguilla bengalensis: Nguyen, Nguyen & Le, 1999: 26
(Vu Quang)
14
Part 1: Freshwater Fishes of Northern Vietnam
Clupanodon thrissa (Linnaeus, 1758) Coilia mystus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Clupanodon thrissa: Mai, 1978: 9 Coilia mystus: Mai, 1978: 14
Remarks.
See Whitehead (1985: 239) for
a recent Remarks. The identity
of the species called C mystus
description, accurate figure and summary
of biological by Mai (1978: 14) is not clear. According

to Whitehead
data on this species. et al. (1985: 469) the species has a long maxilla, reaching
to base of first pectoral-fin ray. Mai's figure is not very
detailed and it does not show the maxilla conspicuously
? Tenualosa reevesii (Richardson, 1846) extending beyond the opercle (but the figure does not
appear very accurate as it shows a forked caudal fin,
Macrura reevessii: Mai, 1978: 8
while all Coilia have a pointed one).
No species with 6
pectoral filaments and a short maxilla has yet been
Remarks. The identity of the species identified as
recorded from the area. So I tentatively retain the
Macrura reevessii by Mai (1978: 8) is not clear.
The identification C. mystus as correct.
generic name Macrura is a synonym of the genus Hilsa,
but the species sometimes known as Alosa reevesii or
Hilsa reevesii (note correct spelling) in fact is a member
of the genus Tenualosa. See Whitehead (1985: 222) for a Family CYPRINIDAE
synopsis of the genus. Tenualosa reevesii is known from
the southern coast of China and
from Phuket on the Acheilognathus barbatulus
Gunther, 1873
Indian Ocean coast
of Thailand, suggesting that it might
(Fig. 2)
occur in intermediate areas, but this needs confirmation;
it is a marine species, known to ascend rivers to breed. Acheilognathus barbatulus: Kottelat, 2000b: 83, 2001
Hilsa keele is another species with a very similar (Laos: Nam Ma)
appearance, is known from the Indo-Pacific coasts from
South Africa to southern China and New Guinea, Remarks. Although not yet recorded from Vietnam,

tolerates low salinity, but is not known to penetrate into this species is known from the Song Ma basin in Laos
pure freshwaters.
and is expected to occur in the same
basin and others in
Vietnam. This species is known from China where it has
been recorded from the Huanghe (Yellow River),
Changjiang (Yangtze),
Zhujiang (Pearl River)
and
Family ENGRAULIDIDAE Lancangjiang (Mekong) (Lin, in Chen,
1998: 505). This
very broad distribution suggests that a critical
Coilia grayii Richardson,
1844 comparative study of well preserved
specimens is needed
to confirm that a single species is involved, or that this
Coilia Grayi: Pellegrin, 1907: 500 (Hanoi) wide distribution is possibly the result
of introductions
Coilia Grayi: Pellegrin, 1934: 334 (Hanoi) (the broadly disjunct range in Yunnan [see Chen & Li, in
Coilia Grayi Chevey & Lemasson, 1937: 15 Chu & Chen, 1989: 131, fig. 123] suggests introduction,
Coilia grayii: Mai, 1978: 13 insufficient sampling or habitat extinction).
Remarks.
See Whitehead et al. (1988) for a synopsis Acheilognathus elongatoides Kottelat, new substitute
of the family Engraulididae (often misspelled as
name
Engraulidae). The presence of 7 pectoral filaments
distinguish this species from all other species of the Pararhodeus elongatus Mai, 1978: 181
genus. Whitehead et al. have apparently missed the
records of this species from northern Vietnam. All Remarks. The original description is uninformative to
species of Coilia have a pointed caudal fin and it is reach an opinion as to the possible identity of this

interesting to note that the figure of C. grayii in Chevey species. The figure is not detailed enough (especially the
& Lemasson (1937) (as well as the one of C. mystus in fish has no mouth). I am tentatively retaining the species
Mai, 1978) show a fish with a forked caudal; this needs as valid in the genus Ac-heilognathus. In Acheilognathus
clarification. it is a junior secondary homonym of Acanthorhodeus
elongatus Regan (1908:
356; see, e.g., Yang et al., 1990)
and I propose Acheilognathus elongatoides as a new
substitute name
(ICZN art. 60.3).
Freshwater Fishes of Northern Vietnam 15
Acheilognathus kyphus (Mai, 1978) Kottelat (2001) reported A. longibarbatus from the
(Fig. 3) Nam Mat basin in northeastern Laos (Song Ca basin).
Again, this
identification needs confirmation
by direct
Pararhodeus
kyphus Mai, 1978: 182
comparison with fresh material
from the type locality.
Remarks. The distinctive colour pattern of the body
and dorsal fin of this species is apparently unique in the Acheilognathus macropterus (Bleeker, 1870)
genus Acheilognathus. (Fig. 5)
Acanthorhodeus
macropterus:
Mai, 1978: 185
Acheilognathus "lamus"
(Fig. 4) Remarks. Acanthorhodeus macropterus is now
placed
in the genus Acheilognathus
(Arai & Akai, 1988:

Acanthorhodeus lamus: Nguyen, Nguyen & Le, 1999: 208). Acanthorhodeus taenianalis is considered as a
27 (Vu Quang) synonym of Acheilognathus macropterus (e.g., Lin, in
Chen, 1998: 419), but judging from the wide
Remarks. This is a nomen nudum (that is, a name distribution range of this species (from Heilongjiang to
which has no validity in zoological nomenclature) and the Hong River basins), it is likely that closer
without information on this species it is not possible to examination may reveal that several species are
discuss its identity. The genus Acanthorhodeus is now involved. See also under Acheilognathuspolyspinus.
considered as a synonym of Acheilognathus (see Arai &
Akai, 1988: 205; Kottelat, 2000c: 198).
The specimen on Fig. 4 was identified in the field Acheilognathus aff. meridianus (Wu, 1939)
as conspecific with his A. "lamus" by Prof Nguyen Thai (Fig. 7)
Tu. Juveniles of several species of Acheilognathus
exhibit the black blotch in the dorsal fin. Remarks. This species was discovered during the
1998 survey in Quang Ninh Province. It seems closely
related to Acheilognathus
meridianus known from
Acheilognathus longibarbatus (Mai, 1978) Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces in China.
(Fig. 6)
? Acheilognathus deignani: Holcik, 1971: 29 (Song Acheilognathuspolyspinus (Holcik, 1972)
Boi) (Fig. 8)
Acanthorhodeus longibarbatus Mai, 1978: 186
? Acheilognathus longibarbatus: Kottelat, 2001 (Laos: Acanthorhodeus taenianalis: Pellegrin, 1907: 500
Nam Mat) (Hanoi)
Acanthorhodeus tonkinensis: Pellegrin, 1934: 334
Remarks. I am unable to identify Acanthorhodeus (Hanoi)
longibarbatus of Mai (1978: 186) with any species Acanthorhodeus taenianalis: Chevey & Lemasson,
described from southern China and therefore tentatively 1937: 64
consider it as a valid species. The species was described Acanthorhodeus polyspinus Holcik, 1972: 5 (Hong
from Cao Bang and Na Ri Rivers in the Pearl River River near Hanoi)
basin. ? Acanthorhodeus dayeus Mai, 1978: 187 (Song Day,

Holcik (1971: 29) reported Acheilognathus Hoa Binh)
deignani from the Song Boi in Hoa Binh Province. This
species was originally described from the Mekong basin Remarks.
Mai (1978) does not mention this species
in northern
Laos. A comparison of fresh material from although it is known only from northern
Vietnam.
both localities is needed and is likely to show that they Judging from his description and figure, it is possible
are not conspecific. Comparing Holcik's data with the that his Acanthorhodeus dayeus is the present species.
figures and description in Mai (1978) suggests that
Mai (1978: 185) considers that the Acanthorhodeus
Holcik's material could be conspecific
or closely related taenianalis of Chevey & Lemasson (1937: 64) in fact
to A. longibarbatus.
This needs confirmation by direct are specimens
of Acheilognathus macropterus. From
comparison. Holcik's (1971) work is not mentioned by Chevey & Lemasson's description, and especially their
Mai (1978). figure, I think their material is actually A. polyspinus; I
cannot exclude the possibility that Mai's A. macropterus
16 Part1: Freshwater
Fishes ofNorthern Vietnam
is in fact also A. polyspinus.
Pellegrin's (1907: 500) A. inconspicuously striped body (e.g. A. yunnanensis, A.
taenianalis and (1937: 334) A. tonkinensis have later
xamensis) and might belong to Poropuntius, but this is
been used as type material
for A. polyspinus. not clear. The other lineage includes species with a
barred colour pattern and apparently is Acrossocheilus
s.s. Contrary to Wu et al. (1977), I do not think that the
Acheilognathus tonkinensis (Vaillant, 1892)

distance between the lobes of the lower lip can be used
(Fig. 9) alone to distinguish subgenera as there are species with
intermediate
conditions. Acrossocheilus elongatus of
Acanthorhodeus tonkinensis
Vaillant, 1892: 127, 1904: these authors is in fact a species of Onychostoma (see
465 (Lai Chau)
below 0. elongatum).
Acanthorhodeus
tonkinensis: Pellegrin, 1907: 500 The type species of Acrossocheilus
is A.
(Hanoi)
formosanus
(Regan, 1908), a species originally described
Acanthorhodeus tonkinensis: Chevey & Lemasson, 1937: from Taiwan which does not appear in recent literature
62
on Taiwan
fishes, e.g. Chen & Fang (1999) who list a
Acanthorhodeus
macropterus tonkinensis: Holcik, 1971: single
species of this genus, A. paradoxus Gunther, 1868.
26 (Song Boi) In a review of the Chinese
species, Shan et al. (in Yue,
Acanthorhodeus tonkinensis: Mai, 1978: 184 2000: 123) treat A. formosus as valid and A. paradoxus
Acheilognathus tonkinensis: Chen & Li, in Chu & Chen, (Giinther, 1868) as a junior synonym of A. labiatus
1989: 130 (Yunnan: Hekou)
(Regan, 1908) (which is incorrect; if these are synonyms,
Acheilognathus tonkinensis: Kottelat, 2001 (Laos: Nam
then the valid name should be A. paradoxus). The
Mat) identity of the Chinese mainland "A.

formosus" requires
confirmation.
Remarks.
Chinese authors record a very wide The
description of the species called Lissochilus
distribution for this species in China, ranging from the clivosius by Mai (1978: 94) is uninformative (and the
Hong River to the Huang He basins. Careful comparison values in the description disagree with those in the table
of fresh samples from throughout this range will under A. laocaiensis) and I cannot comment on the
probably show that several species are confused under identity of the species (but I note that Shan et al., in Yue,
this name.
2000:
record 28-33 gill rakers on the first gill arch while
Mai records only 7-9). At best, the identification needs
confirmation. The available data do not allow one to
Acheilognathus sp. A
decide whether or not it is distinct from A. iridescens
(Fig. 10)
[placed in genus Cyclocheilichthys by Mai, 1978:
90].
The difference between L. laocaiensis and L.
Remarks. This species was observed during the 1999 clivosius is in the number of serrae along the posterior
survey of the Lo River basin. Presently, it is not edge of the last simple dorsal-fin ray (9, vs. 11-12), the
identifiable with any of the species known from Vietnam, number of gill-rakers on the first gill-arch (7, vs. 7-9),
Laos or China, but considering the various problems head length (10.75 % SL, vs. 12.63) and body depth (11
mentioned, it should be expected that some of them may % SL, vs. 14.93). Considering that Mai's specimens of L.
turn
out as conspecific once the material
is properly laocaiensis
were 31-48 mm SL and those
of A. cliviosus

examined.
34-72 mm SL, the difference in the number of serrae on
the dorsal-fin spine
falls within the variation expected in
any cyprinid, especially as this number usually increases
? Acrossocheilus clivosius (Lin, 1935) with the size of the fish. The difference in the number of
gill rakers (7, vs. 7-9) is not a difference, especially as
? Lissochilus laocaiensis Nguyen & Doan, 1969: 12 the figure of 7 gill rakers given in the table p. 94
(Suoi
Trinh Quyen, Lao Cai)
becomes 7-9 on p. 93, so that
there is a complete overlap
Lissochilus clivosius:
Mai, 1978: 94 and agreement instead of
a difference. The morphometric
? Lissochilus
laocaiensis: Mai, 1978: 93
values for the
two species in the table differ from
both
those cited in their respective descriptions and those in
Remarks. The systematics
of the genus the key (see Table below)
so that one does not know
Acrossocheilus is very confused and authors have used
what the real values are. Those in the key could suggest a
this name for very different fishes. As currently used difference, but I cannot ascertain which are in fact the
(more or less following Wu et al., 1977), the genus correct
set of values.
seems to include several different lineages (Kottelat,

2000a: 38). One of them includes species with a plain or
Freshwater Fishes of Northern Vietnam 17
340, 184 mm
SL); it has 40+3 lateral line scales and
table descrip- key about 4+11 gill-rakers on the first gill arch (difficult to
p.
93
tion count as the specimen had been poorly
dissected).
A. lvs7st
HeadkrighinSL 10.75% 259% 3.6-3.8fim[263-Z7.8%]
BodlydhMbSL 11% 28l% Acrossocheilus lamus (Mai, 1978)
Adi1adghinSL 1263%
24.1% 45trrh[2-250%]
Lissochilus lamus Mai,
1978: 101 (Lam River)
BalydhinSL 14.93% 28.0%
Remarks.
Using the data in Mai's key (1978: 92),
this species would belongs to a group without dark bars
The difference in intensity
of colour pattem mentioned
on body. But his description
(p. 101) mentions 5 bars
in the key
(black bars conspicuous in L. laocaiensis,
vs. which also appear
on his figure 43. The species
is also
black bars diffuse

in L. clivosius) might be real;
it might said to be distinguished
from the other species
just as well be the result
of a preservation artifact or
considered by Mai as congeneric
by the number of
reflect differences in the water
quality, age, etc.
[lateral line] scales [39], the number
of gill rakers on
Therefore, at this
stage, with the published data,
there first branchial arch
[20], the number of serrae on last
does
not seem to be ways to distinguish
the two species. simple dorsal-fm
ray [15] and the length of the
In addition, I note that in the original description of
mandibular barbel. But the species has obvious
L. laocaiensis, Nguyen & Doan report
the head length affinities
with A. iridescens which Mai (1978:
90)
to be 3.5-4.4 times in the length [it is not clear to me places in the genus Cyclocheilichthys.
whether they
used SL or TL] and the lateral
line scale It is very
difficult to decide of the distinctness

of A.
count 36-38 (vs. 38-40 in Mai,
1978: 93).
lamus and A. iridescens on the
basis of the available
data. The single specimen of L. lamus has 39 lateral line
scales and thus falls within or at the limit of the
Acrossocheilus iridescens (Nichols
& Pope, 1927) variation
range of A. iridescens (41-43
in A. iridescens
(Fig. 11)
according
to Mai [p. 90, in a different
genus], 39-41
according to Wu & Lin [in Wu
et al., 1977: 290], 40-43
Cyclocheilichthys
microstoma Pellegrin &
Chevey, according to
Chen & Li [in Chu & Chen, 1989:
208],
1936b: 227 (Ba Mun, Nam So,
a tributary of Da River) 41-42
according to Chevey & Lemasson
[1937: 53, 54],
Cyclocheilichthys
iridescens: Chevey
& Lemasson,
and 41-44 according to Shan

et al., in Yue [2000: 124]).
1937: 53 The length of the barbel and the number of serration is
Cyclocheilichthys microstoma:
Chevey & Lemasson,
uninformative. The number
of gill-rakers for A.
1937: 54
iridescens is given
as 11 by Mai and the holotype
of
Acrossocheilus (Acrossocheilus) iridescens Cyclocheilichthys microstoma (a synonym of A.
yuanjiangensis Wu & Lin,
in Wu et al., 1977: 290
iridescens, see above)
has about 4+11 and this character
(Yunnan: Hekou)
might be distinctive. Mai's figure also suggests that the
Cyclocheilichthys
iridescens: Mai,
1978: 90 pelvic-fin
origin in A. lamus could be
slightly more
Acrossocheilus
iridescens yuanjiangensis:
Chen & Li, backwards and
the body deeper. This, combined
with
in Chu & Chen,
1989: 208 (Yunnan: Hekou)
the presence of the species

in the Lam River, leads me
Acrossocheilus
iridescens: Kottelat,
2001 (Laos: Nam to tentatively
accept it as valid, pending
examination of
Xam, Nam
Ma)
the types and
additional material from the type
locality.
Remarks. Wu & Lin (in Wu et al., 1977) recognise
three subspecies of A. iridescens: A. i. iridescens on Acrossocheilus xamensis Kottelat, 2000
Hainan island, H. i. zhujiangensis [now A. i. (Fig. 12)
longipinnis, see Ye, in Pan, 1991: 153] in Pearl River
basin and A. i. yuanjiangensis
in the Hong River basin
Acrossocheilus xamensis
Kottelat, 2000a: 38 (Laos: Nam
in Yunnan. For lack of material and data, I am unable to Xam)
comment on the status of these species. But, if the Hong
Acrossocheilus xamensis: Kottelat, 2001 (Laos: Nam
River material is considered to be a distinct species or Xam)
subspecies, its correct name is A. microstoma as this
name
has priority over A. yuanjiangensis. I
have Remarks. This species
was discovered in 1998 in the
examined the holotype of C. microstoma
(MNHN 1935- Nam

Xam in Laos and is expected
to occur in Vietnam.