Danio | |
---|---|
Danio rerio | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cypriniformes |
Family: | Cyprinidae |
Subfamily: | Danioninae |
Genus: |
Danio F. Hamilton, 1822 |
Type species | |
Cyprinus (Danio) dangila Hamilton, 1822 |
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Synonyms | |
Brachydanio Weber & de Beaufort, 1916 |
Brachydanio Weber & de Beaufort, 1916
Celestichthys Roberts, 2007
Danio is a genus of fish in the family Cyprinidae found in the rivers of Southeast Asia, commonly kept in aquaria. These species have two pairs of long barbels and they are generally characterised by a pattern of horizontal stripes, rows of spots or vertical bars. Species of this genus consume various small aquatic insects, crustaceans and worms.
The name "danio" comes from the Bangla name dhani, meaning "of the rice field". Danio was described in the early 19th century by Francis Hamilton. Two of the species included by him in the genus, still remain valid — D. dangila and D. rerio. About a century later (1916) and with many more species described in the meantime, the genus was split; the larger species into Danio and the smaller species into the genus Brachydanio. In 1991, though, the two genera were recombined; most larger species formerly within the Danio genus have now been reclassified into the genus Devario. Also, Brachydanio is now a junior synonym of Danio.
There are currently 26 recognized species in this genus: