Japan Rice Fish

Japan Rice Fish
English Common Name
Japan Rice Fish
Scientific name
Oryzias latipes
Taxonomy
Order: Beloniformes, Family: Adrianichthyidae
Size
About 3.5 cm
Species Distribution
Widely distributed in southern Japan. Population found in Iheya, Kumejima, Okinawa, and Tokashiki Islands belongs to Ryukyu type.
Okinawan Common Name
Taka-mee
Okinawa Red List of Threatened Species: Critically Endangered
Japan Red List of Threatened Species: Vulnerable
Up until recently, Oryzias latipes found in Okinawa prefecture was thought to be introduced from Kyushu, Japan long time ago. DNA analysis found out that the population found in Okinawa prefecture is endemic. Habitat loss due to river development and environmental degradation, and population reduction due to competition with introduced species such as guppies, mosquitofish and swordtails that have similar feeding behaviors. Another concern of this species is possible genetic disturbances caused by crossbreeding with introduced ricefishes from different areas.

Updated December 2018

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