Disymphia

Disymphia molitorella (mud carp or dace) is a species of ray-finned fish in a monospecific genus found mainly in southern China and Vietnam.

History

The mud carp is a native Asian freshwater fish with a broad distribution from the Mekong River to the Pearl River deltas, inhabiting lakes, rivers and reservoirs.

Mud carp cultivation was introduced to China during the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD) as a substitute for common carp, as the common carp was forbidden to fish due to a ban. Chinese aquaculture farmers adapted by raising mud carp, which were bottom feeders, in polyculture with top-feeding grass carp, while silver carp or bighead carp lived and fed in the middle depths.

Habitat

Mud carp is typically a subtropical fish. The mud carp is found in the mud and Mekong River and Pearl River delta, as well as bodies of freshwater along these two rivers. In China's Guangdong province and Guangxi autonomous region, mud carp makes up about 30% of the freshwater fish population.

The fish has been introduced to Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

Within China the fish is raised on fish farms.

Dispersion

The mud carp is native to Southern China and parts of Mainland South