Red-tailed black shark | |
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A red-tailed black shark | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cypriniformes |
Family: | Cyprinidae |
Genus: | Epalzeorhynchos |
Species: | E. bicolor |
Binomial name | |
Epalzeorhynchos bicolor (H. M. Smith, 1931) |
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Synonyms | |
Labeo bicolor |
Labeo bicolor
The red-tailed black shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor; syn. Labeo bicolor), also known as the redtail shark and redtail sharkminnow, is a species of freshwater fish in the carp family, Cyprinidae. It is endemic to the Thailand and currently critically endangered, but common in aquaria, where it is prized for its deep black body and vivid red or orange tail. The red-tailed black sharks seen in the aquarium trade today are all captive bred.
It is not closely related to sharks.
The species is endemic to Thailand, and was described by Hugh M. Smith in 1931 as being 'not uncommon' in Bueng Boraphet and the streams which lead from it, and as being found in the Chao Phraya River as far south as Bangkok. A 1934 expedition reported catching a specimen in the Silom canal. As of 2011 it is only known at a single location in the Chao Phraya basin, and has Critically Endangered status on the IUCN Red List. From 1996 until 2011 it was believed to be Extinct in the Wild. There is no evidence that collection for the aquarium trade is responsible for the species' decline, and it is more likely that construction of dams and draining of swamps that took place during the 1970s was to blame.
Red-tailed black sharks can reach a length of 16 cm (6 in). They can live up to 8 years, although in some rare cases they have lived to be over 18 years old.
In the aquarium trade, tail colors can vary, with bright red and orange being the most common. If the shark is stressed or unhealthy, the red color will drain from its tail. Albino forms may also be encountered.
In home aquaria, redtail sharks prefer a pH between 6.8 and 7.5, a temperature between 22 °C and 26 °C (72 °F and 79 °F) and water hardness between 5 and 15 dH.