Japanese rice fish

"Medaka" redirects here. For the manga and anime series, see Medaka Box.

Japanese rice fish
Oryzias latipes
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Beloniformes
Family: Adrianichthyidae
Genus: Oryzias
Species:
O. latipes
Binomial name
Oryzias latipes
Synonyms[2]
  • Poecilia latipes Temminck & Schlegel, 1846
  • Aplocheilus latipes (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)

The Japanese rice fish (Oryzias latipes), also known as the medaka,[2] is a member of genus Oryzias (ricefish), the only genus in the subfamily Oryziinae. This small (up to about 3.6 cm or 1.4 in) native of Japan is a denizen of rice paddies, marshes, ponds, slow-moving streams and tide pools.[3][4] It is euryhaline, occurring in both brackish and freshwater.[3] It became popular as an aquarium fish because of its hardiness and pleasant coloration: its coloration varies from creamy-white to yellowish in the wild to white, creamy-yellow, or orange in aquarium-bred individuals. Bright yellow, red or green transgenic populations, similar to GloFish, have also been developed, but are banned from sale in the EU.[5] The medaka has been a popular pet since the 17th century in Japan.[6] After fertilization, the female carries her eggs attached anterior to the anal fin for a period before depositing them on plants or similar things.[5]

  1. ^ Kanao, S.; Taniguchi, Y.; Watanabe, K. (2019). "Oryzias latipes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T166979A1159322. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T166979A1159322.en. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Oryzias latipes". FishBase. April 2019 version.
  3. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2014). "Oryzias latipes". FishBase.
  4. ^ Parenti, L.R. (2008). "A phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision of ricefishes, Oryzias and relatives (Beloniformes, Adrianichthyidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 154 (3): 494–610. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00417.x.
  5. ^ a b "Oryzias latipes". SeriouslyFish. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  6. ^ Hellweg, M (August 2013). "The Ricefish: An Odd and Interesting Group". TFH Magazine. Retrieved 21 February 2017.