Threatened fishes of the world: Chuanchia labiosa (Herzenstein, 1891) (Cyprinidae)

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Common name: Huanghe naked carp (English). Local name: Gu Chun Huang He Yu (Chinese). Figure from Wu and Wu (1991). Conservation status: Vulnerable— China Red Data Book of Endangered Animal, Pisces (Yue and Chen 1998). Identification: Body elongate and somewhat compressed, head conical, snout projected, mouth large, inferior and transverse (Yue and Chen 1998), lower jaw covered by horny sheath and slanted upwards and forming truncated margin (Wu and Wu 1991), barbels absent, body naked but with a small number of irregular scales on part of pectoral girdle and anal, last simple ray of dorsal fin strong and serrated on hind margin, origin of dorsal fin laid anterior part of body and opposite ahead origin of pelvic fin. Body color grayish-yellow on back and sides, silver white on abdomen and with a few small dark spots (Yue and Chen 1998). Dorsal iv+7, Anal iii+5, Pectoral i+16–19, Pelvic i+8–10 (Wu and Wu 1991). Body length 150–250 mm (Yue and Chen 1998). Distribution: Endemic, distributed only the upper reaches of the Yellow River. Abundance: The population started to decline during the past four decades (Yue and Chen 1998), and is now very rare in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. Habitat and ecology: Chuanchia labiosa inhabits broad sections of river with slow-moving clear water, and feeds on aquatic invertebrates and diatoms (Wu and Wu 1991; Yue and Chen 1998). Reproduction: Its spawning period begins in May, and its eggs appear yellow and adhesive (Wu and Wu 1991; Yue and Chen 1998). Threats: Human activity and habitat degradation are the critical threats, including commercial overfishing, habitat destruction resulted from the construction of water conservation projects, introduction of exotic competitors (Yue and Chen 1998; Qi 2008). Conservation recommendations: The conservation status of C. labiosa can be improved through effective habitat protection, fishing restriction and avoiding stocking other fishes, especially cyprinids of exotic origins. Environ Biol Fish (2010) 87:141–142 DOI 10.1007/s10641-009-9570-8