Pocket-like lip barbel

The pocket-like lip barbel (Paraspinibarbus macracanthus) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish from the carp and minnow family, the Cyprinidae. It occurs in the Nam Xam and Nam Ma river basins in Laos, the Red River basin in Vietnam and Yunnan, as well as in most of the coastal drainage basins of northern Vietnam.^[1] The pocket-like lip barbel is recognized for its distinctively large, pocket-like structures on its lower lip. These structures are believed to play a role in sensory functions, aiding the fish in detecting food particles and navigating its environment. The species typically exhibits a slender, elongated body, with coloration ranging from silvery to golden along the flanks and a darker hue along the back. These features contribute to its camouflage in its natural riverine habitats.^[5]

Pocket-like lip barbel
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Cyprinidae
Subfamily:	Cyprininae
Genus:	Paraspinibarbus X.-L. Chu & Kottelat, 1989[2]
Species:	P. macracanthus
Binomial name
Paraspinibarbus macracanthus (Pellegrin & Chevey, 1936)[3]
Synonyms[4]
Spinibarbus macracanthus Pellegrin & Chevey, 1936 Parator macracanthus (Pellegrin & Chevey, 1936) Balantiocheilus hekouensis Wu, 1977