Chinese High-fin Banded Shark

Young Myxocyprinus normally possess brown bodies bearing three dark-colored slanting bands, and they are also characterized by high and triangular dorsal fins that extends up to the rear of the anal fin. The thick and fleshy lips bear small papillae without barbels. They have a single row of pharyngeal teeth that have comb-like arrangements. Through adulthood, Myxocyprinus become darker in appearance. The characteristic pale bands found in young specimens disappear at a length of 30–36 cm (12–14 in), and the species has been referred to as an "ugly duckling in reverse". The growth is fast; it grows at the rate of one inch per year. Sexual maturity is reached when five to six years old and at least 60 cm (2 ft) long. The maximum size reached by this fish is 1.35 m (4 ft 5 in) in length and 40 kg (88 lb) in weight. In its natural habitat, Myxocyprinus live for more than 25 years and reach sexual maturity in 5 years for males and 6 years for females. During the breeding season, adult males are distinguished from adult females by their red coloration. Adult females are of dark purple color with a broad and vertical reddish area along the body. The eggs are 1.8–2.0 mm (0.071–0.079 in) in diameter, and expanded to 3.8–4.0 mm (0.15–0.16 in) after absorbing water and fertilization. …

Myxocyprinus are native to the Yangtze River basin of China. They are potamodromous, migrating into relatively fast flowing, shallow headwaters to spawn, but spend the remaining time in the main river sections. The population in the Min River, a tributary of the Yangtze, may have been extirpated. Historically, they also inhabited the Yalong and Jialing Rivers.