Hoven’s carp
(Leptobarbus hoevenii)
General data
Hoven’s carp (Leptobarbus hoevenii; Jelawat in Malay), also known as the mad barb or sultan fish, is a species of fish in the barb family.
Named in honor of Bleeker’s fellow Dutchman, le célèbre professeur de zoologie Jan van der Hoeven (1801-1868).
It is native to freshwater habitats in the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Borneo and Sumatra. In peninsular malaysia, this species is only found the states of Perak and Pahang. However, a single specimen was caught in the Bernam River, Selangor.
Populations further north in the Chao Phraya and Mekong Basins were included in this species until 2009, but are now considered a separate species, L. rubripinna.
The two are frequently confused and the same common names have been used for both; only L. rubripinna is known from the aquarium trade.
It may reach up to about 1 m (3.3 ft) long and 10 kg.
A midwater to near bottom dweller. frequently lives in groups. Stomach contents shows signs of an omnivorous diet, mainly shrimp, insect larvae and green matter.
