Chinese icefish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chinese icefish |
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|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Neosalanx
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| Species: |
tangkahkeii
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| Synonyms | |
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Neosalanx taihuensis |
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The Chinese icefish, also known as the short-snout icefish, is a small fish found only in China. Its scientific name is Neosalanx tangkahkeii. It lives in both fresh water and slightly salty water, called brackish water.
Even though it's called the Chinese icefish, it's not the only type of icefish in China. In fact, most of the fish in the icefish family live there! People catch the Chinese icefish a lot. It is eaten in Asia and also sent to southern Europe. There, it is used as a cheaper substitute for another fish called the transparent goby.
What Does the Chinese Icefish Look Like?
The Chinese icefish is quite small. It usually grows to about 6.3 cm long. This is measured from its snout to the start of its tail.
This fish has a very smooth body. It does not have any scales, except for the male fish. Male Chinese icefish have a thin line of scales near their tail. The body of the fish is a cloudy white color. However, its head is clear, or transparent, so you can see through it!
Is the Chinese Icefish Endangered?
The Chinese icefish lives in many places. You can find it in big rivers like the Yangtze and Yellow River in China. In some areas, there are not many of these fish. For example, in a study of five types of freshwater icefish in the Yangtze, this one was the least common.
In some parts of China, the number of Chinese icefish has gone down. This is because their homes are being lost or polluted. Also, too many fish are being caught, which is called overfishing.
However, overall, the Chinese icefish is not considered to be in danger. The IUCN says it is a species of "least concern." This means there are still plenty of them around the world.
When the Chinese Icefish Moves to New Places
The Chinese icefish is one of three icefish species that people have moved to new areas in China. These are places where the fish did not naturally live before. This is called being an introduced species.
Many times, these attempts to move the fish failed. But some were successful. For example, in the Yunnan lakes, the Chinese icefish is now very common. It often becomes the most common fish there!
The Chinese icefish eats tiny water creatures called plankton and small fish. When it moves to new lakes, it can compete with the fish that already live there. Sometimes, the Chinese icefish eats so much that the native fish become rare. This can make them endangered.
