The Siamese Flying Fox (Epalzeorhynchus kallopterus) is a freshwater fish in the Cyprinidae family.
The Siamese Flying Fox has an elongated, cylindrical body with a brownish-black, horizontal band from its eye to its tail. It also has a thinner, golden-coloured line above and below the black line. It has white and black edges on its fins. Its mouth is slightly forward protruding with two pairs of small barbels (whisker-like structures). It has red eyes.
It grows up to 15 centimetres (6 inches) long.
The Siamese Flying Fox is native to the rivers in south-east Asia, in countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, and Indonesia. It prefers fast-flowing rivers.
It is benthic, which means that it is a bottom-feeder. It lives and eats on the bottom of the river bed.
It is omnivorous, eating algae and aquatic plants and small invertebrates, such as worms, insects, and crustaceans (crabs and shrimp).
It is usually a solitary fish.
The Siamese Flying Fox lives, on average, for 8-10 years.
[Location of photographs: Tbilisi Zoo, Georgia]
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM