Fish · GBIF taxon 2347811
Blue Panchax
Aplocheilus panchaxAlso known as Whitespot, Panchax Killifish, Lesser Panchax
Blue panchax hover just beneath the water surface in slow-moving streams, flooded rice paddies, and brackish estuaries across South and Southeast Asia. A bright silvery-white spot atop the head acts like a light-detecting sensor to spot overhead predators while they stalk mosquito larvae and floating insects. Females scatter sticky eggs among dense aquatic vegetation, leaving the resilient fry to hunt independently from the moment they hatch.
FreshwaterSurface DwellerInsectivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mosquito Larvae
- Water Fleas
- Surface Insects
Predators
- Egrets and Herons
- Larger Predatory Fish
- Water Snakes
ThreatsWetland loss, agricultural pollution, and competition from invasive mosquitofish
HabitatsPonds, sluggish streams, rice paddies, mangrove estuaries, and warm springs
Life span3–5 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderCyprinodontiformes
- FamilyAplocheilidae
- GenusAplocheilus
- SpeciesAplocheilus panchax
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look for the glowing silver-white spot visible on top of their heads on sunny days.
- Habitat Spotting: Scan calm margins of rice paddies and stagnant ditches where surface insects gather.
Competitor no rights reserved, uploaded by Ken Kneidel · cc0
Close Relative (c) Navaneeth Sini George, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative
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