Labeo angra

Overview

Labeo angra is a bottom-associated cyprinid distributed from South Asia into Myanmar. A brownish back, yellowish sides and belly, and a dark blue-black stripe from the eye to the tail base form its characteristic color pattern. It undertakes annual reproductive movements within its native rivers.

Distribution & habitat

Records cover Pakistan, Nepal, northern India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Nepalese localities include the Kosi and Karnali systems, while the type locality is the Brahmaputra in India.

It is predominantly benthic. Bottom association and seasonal migration are compatible habits, so it should not be regarded as a fish permanently confined to one small bottom retreat.

Breeding

Wild fish migrate within river systems to reproduce annually. Migration alone does not establish an aquarium breeding method or justify transferring a spawning arrangement from another cyprinid.

Notes

Use the combination of dorsal brown, yellowish flanks and abdomen, and the eye-to-tail stripe when checking identity. The large and complex genus contains many superficially similar fishes, and broad generic discussions do not replace species-level identification.