Korean splendid dace facts for kids

The Coreoleuciscus splendidus, also known as the swiri or Korean splendid dace, is a special type of fish. It belongs to the cyprinid family, which includes carps and minnows. This fish is endemic to the Korean peninsula, meaning it is found naturally only in the rivers there.

Scientists first described the swiri in 1935. It was noted that these fish lay their eggs, a process called spawning, in rivers like the Geum and Seomjin. Surveys in South Korea have shown that the swiri lives in many rivers across the southern part of the peninsula. They usually spawn between early May and mid-June.

What Does It Look Like?

The Korean splendid dace is a small fish, typically growing to about 10 to 15 centimeters (about 4 to 6 inches) long. It has a long, thin body and a pointy snout. Its eyes are small and shaped like a horseshoe.

The head of the swiri is usually greyish-brown. Its back is a darker color, while its belly is much lighter, often appearing white. A bright stripe runs along each side of its body. This stripe is usually yellow, but some swiri have orange stripes, which are considered very beautiful!

People sometimes keep these fish for decoration because of their pretty colors. To make their colors even brighter, people feed them special foods rich in carotenoids. These can include things like spirulina or paprika.

In Popular Culture

The swiri fish is so well-known in Korea that a famous 1999 South Korean film was named after it. The movie is called Shiri. In the film, you can see these fish swimming in tanks in the main characters' offices. One of the movie's villains even talks about the swiri and how the division of Korea has affected it. This shows how important the fish is to Korean culture.

See also

In Spanish: Coreoleuciscus splendidus para niños