Protosalanx

Protosalanx
Protosalanx hyalocranius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Osmeriformes
Family: Salangidae
Genus: Protosalanx
Regan, 1908

Protosalanx is a small genus of icefishes that are native to China, Korea and Vietnam where they primarily inhabit coastal waters and nearby fresh waters. They are commercially fished and used for aquaculture in China, where also introduced to some inland waters like Lake Dianchi.[1][2] In addition to being eaten locally in Asia, they are exported to southern Europe as a replacement of the more expensive transparent goby, a Mediterranean species used in the local cuisine. This replacement is often done openly, but sometimes it is done fraudulently.[3]

Protosalanx are up to 22.5 cm (8.9 in) in standard length,[1] have a transparent body and largely lack scales.[2] They are open-water fish. Small Protosalanx mostly feed on zooplankton, but larger individuals also take small fish, including cannibalism of young of their own species.[4][5] They are naturally anadromous, with adults migrating from their coastal sea habitat into estuaries to spawn and the juveniles returning to the coastal sea. However, some of the introduced populations have been able to adapt their life cycle and always stay in fresh water.[2][4]

The scientific name is derived from proto (Greek proto = first) and the latinization of salamga, Filipino for a kind of swallow.[6]

  1. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Protosalanx". FishBase. March 2019 version.
  2. ^ a b c Liu, K.; et al. (2017). "Whole genome sequencing of Chinese clearhead icefish, Protosalanx hyalocranius". GigaScience. 6 (4): 1–6. doi:10.1093/gigascience/giw012. PMC 5530312. PMID 28327943.
  3. ^ Armani, A.; Castigliego, L.; Tinacci, L.; Gianfaldoni, D.; Guidi, A. (2011). "Molecular characterization of icefish, (Salangidae family), using direct sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene". Food Control. 22 (6): 888–895. doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2010.11.020.
  4. ^ a b Huckstorf, V. (2012). "Protosalanx chinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T180684A1651584. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T180684A1651584.en. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  5. ^ Tang, F.J.; Liu, W.; Wang, J.L.; Li, Z.; Xie, S.G. (2013). "Diet composition and transition of clearhead icefish (Protosalanx hyalocranius) in Lake Xingkai". Zoological Research. 34 (5): 493–498. PMID 24115662.
  6. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Protosalanx hyalocranius". FishBase. March 2019 version.