New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

💧 Freshwater Least Concern 🌡️ Tropical

Sabretoothed thryssa

Lycothrissa crocodilus Bleeker, 1850
Max Length
30 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.7
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
36.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
pelagic

📖 Overview

A riverine and lacustrine species, but perhaps passing from estuaries into the sea. More data needed; rather few specimens are in museum collections . Often ascends into freshwater . Occurs in medium to large-sized rivers of the lower Mekong . Apparently non-migratory , but reported to undertake migrations in the Mekong mainstream . From the Khone Falls to the Mekong delta, it migrates upstream during the dry season from October to March and downstream at the onset of the monsoon season from May to July . These migrations are reported to be triggered by the receding or rising of the water levels . Feeds on crustaceans, insects and small fishes . Use to make prahoc .

Scientific Name
Lycothrissa crocodilus
Authority
Bleeker, 1850
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
30 cm
Latitude
5°S – 17°N
Trophic Level
3.7
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
36.00/100
Migration
Potamodromous

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 44 - 48. Belly with 16 to 19 keeled scutes from pectoral fin base to anus. Maxilla short, tip blunt; first supra-maxilla absent. Lower gill rakers short, with large tooth-like serrae. Anal fin origin before dorsal fin origin by about an eye diameter. Pectoral fins wholly or partly black, caudal yellow with black margin The enlarged jaw teeth distinguish it from any other Indo-West Pacific anchovy . Relatively small head; flat dorsal profile; long axillary scales at pectoral and pelvic bases .: elongated; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Sabretoothed thryssa is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous
Spawning Season
spring
Spawn Location
Substrate
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; brackish; pelagic; potamodromous . Tropical; 17°N - 5°S, 98°E - 117°E

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater 🌿 Brackish 🐟 Pelagic
Migration
Potamodromous
Trophic Level
3.7±0.59
Food Items

crustaceans, insects and small fishes (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00363 × L3.05 (TL)
Max TL
30cm
Anal Rays
46

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2019

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
36.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.7
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
17°N – 5°S
Described By
Bleeker, 1850

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Engraulis crocodilus Bleeker 1850 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Sabretoothed thryssa ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.