The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
ISSN 2307-8235 (online)
IUCN 2008: T166487A6219667
Danio rerio
Assessment by: Vishwanath, W.
View on www.iucnredlist.org
Citation: Vishwanath, W. 2010. Danio rerio. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010:
e.T166487A6219667. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T166487A6219667.en
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Actinopterygii
Cypriniformes
Cyprinidae
Taxon Name: Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822)
Taxonomic Notes:
Hamilton (1822) described Cyprinus rerio from Gangetic provinces. Shrestha (1978) treated it under
genus Danio.
Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:
Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:
2010
Date Assessed:
October 9, 2009
Justification:
Danio rerio is very widely distributed species with a few populations threatened from overexploitation
for ornamental fisheries. Otherwise, the species is not threatened in its entire range and with the
recommendation of continuing monitoring of population trends, it is assessed as Least Concern
presently.
Geographic Range
Range Description:
Danio rerio is a widely distributed species, known througout India to Nepal in the north and from Sutlej
River in the west and in the east in West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh.
Country Occurrence:
Native: Bangladesh; India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh,
West Bengal); Nepal
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Danio rerio – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T166487A6219667.en
1
Distribution Map
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Danio rerio – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T166487A6219667.en
2
Population
It is difficult to assess the population of the species. It is not common in the natural water bodies. It
breeds easily in nature. Aquarists have also artificially bred the fish successfuly. In Nepal the catch per
unit effort (CPUE) of this species is up to 1.88 %. In Arunachal Pradesh the catch rate is 1.9 % (Tamang et
al. 2007).
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)
The species is an annual species. Adults inhabit streams, canals, ditches, ponds and beels occur in slowmoving to stagnant standing water bodies, particularly rice-fields and lower reaches of streams
common in rivulets at foot hills. Feed on worms and small crustaceans, also on insect larvae. Breed all
year round. Spawning is induced by temperature and commences at the onset of the monsoon season.
Food availability also acts as cue for breeding.
Systems: Freshwater
Use and Trade (see Appendix for additional information)
Danio rerio is one of the most popular aquarium fishes being extremely active and graceful. Its blue and
silver horizontal stripes, its constant activity, the ease with which it is kept and fed, and its inoffensive
nature make it a prime favourite with most tropical fish hobbyists. Besides the fact that it is an egg-layer
and, therefore, not as easily raised as the livebearers, the Zebra Danio is probably the finest small
tropical aquarium fish known. It is strikingly beautiful coloured, easy to feed, and resistant to disease. It
attains a length of 4.5 cm. It is hardy and easy to breed; desirable in community tank, and is easily
maintained. It is also grown in captivity to use for experimental science.
Threats (see Appendix for additional information)
Being a popular aquarium fish, it might suffer from over exploitation resulting in fluctuation of
individuals.
Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)
Although it has been reported from Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, it is also distributed in
many unprotected areas. Thus, clearly there is a need for improved habitat protection at sites where
this species is known to occur. Further survey work is needed to confirm whether or not this species is
experiencing a widespread decline, or is undergoing extreme population fluctuations.
Credits
Assessor(s):
Vishwanath, W.
Reviewer(s):
Barbhuiya, A.H., Juffe Bignoli, D., Rema Devi, K.R., Dahanukar, N. & Chaudhry, S.
Contributor(s):
Molur, S.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Danio rerio – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T166487A6219667.en
3
Bibliography
Hamilton, F. 1822. An account of the fishes found in the river Ganges and its branches. Edinburgh &
London.
IUCN. 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2010.4). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 27 October 2010).
Jha, B.R. 2009. Fish ecological studies in assessing ecological integrity of rivers: Application in rivers of
Nepal. VDM Verlag Dr. Muller Aktiengesellschaft & Co. KG, Germany.
Shrestha, J. 1978. Fish fauna of Nepal. Journel of NAtural History Museum Tribhuvan University. 5(1-4):
33-43.
Tamang, L., Chaudhry, S. and Choudhury, D. 2007. Ichthyofaunal contribution to the state and
comparison of habitat contiguity on taxonomic diversity in Senkhi Stream, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 104(2): 170–177.
Citation
Vishwanath, W. 2010. Danio rerio. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T166487A6219667.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T166487A6219667.en
Disclaimer
To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.
External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Danio rerio – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T166487A6219667.en
4
Appendix
Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Habitat
Season
Suitability
Major
Importance?
5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.2. Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent/Irregular Rivers/Streams/Creeks
-
Suitable
Yes
5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.4. Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps,
Fens, Peatlands
-
Suitable
Yes
5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.7. Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater
Marshes/Pools (under 8ha)
-
Suitable
Yes
Use and Trade
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
End Use
Local
National
International
Pets/display animals, horticulture
No
Yes
Yes
Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Threat
Timing
Scope
Severity
Impact Score
5. Biological resource use -> 5.4. Fishing & harvesting
aquatic resources -> 5.4.2. Intentional use: (large
scale)
Ongoing
Minority (50%)
Slow, significant
declines
Low impact: 5
Stresses:
2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality
2. Species Stresses -> 2.2. Species disturbance
Conservation Actions in Place
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions in Place
In-Place Research, Monitoring and Planning
Action Recovery plan: No
Systematic monitoring scheme: No
In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management
Conservation sites identified: Yes, over part of range
Occur in at least one PA: Yes
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Danio rerio – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T166487A6219667.en
5
Conservation Actions in Place
Area based regional management plan: No
Invasive species control or prevention: Not Applicable
In-Place Species Management
Harvest management plan: No
Successfully reintroduced or introduced beningly: No
Subject to ex-situ conservation: No
In-Place Education
Subject to recent education and awareness programmes: No
Included in international legislation: No
Subject to any international management/trade controls: No
Conservation Actions Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions Needed
1. Land/water protection -> 1.1. Site/area protection
4. Education & awareness -> 4.3. Awareness & communications
Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends
1. Research -> 1.3. Life history & ecology
1. Research -> 1.5. Threats
Additional Data Fields
Distribution
Continuing decline in area of occupancy (AOO): Unknown
Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) (km²): 1083000
Continuing decline in extent of occurrence (EOO): Unknown
Extreme fluctuations in extent of occurrence (EOO): Unknown
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Danio rerio – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T166487A6219667.en
6
Population
Continuing decline of mature individuals: Unknown
Population severely fragmented: No
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Danio rerio – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T166487A6219667.en
7
The IUCN Red List Partnership
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN
Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation
International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas
A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.
THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™