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

💧 Freshwater Vulnerable 🍽️ Edible 🐠 Aquarium 🌡️ Tropical

Sinarapan

Mistichthys luzonensis Smith, 1902
Max Length
2.5 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
2 yrs
Trophic Level
3.1
Depth
0–12 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Adults occur from the shoreline to depths of at least 12 m. Caught with collapsible Y-shaped push-nets (sakag); also aggregated using a device (abung) wherein the fish comes to rest upon palm leaves and are then harvested using triangular nets (sarap). Sinarapan is a delicacy and of great economic importance to the communities around the lakes. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as 'smallest food fish' .

Scientific Name
Mistichthys luzonensis
Authority
Smith, 1902
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
VU
Max Length
2.5 cm
Lifespan
2 years
Depth Range
0–12 m
Trophic Level
3.1
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Migration
Non-migratory
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6 - 8; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10. Fresh specimens transparent, with large eyes showing the only color, black. Males smaller than females, shorter and more slender. Head naked; body covered with deciduous scales. Scales in longitudinal series 23-24; in transverse series 6. Sides and back of head with few dark or black spots.: elongated; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Sinarapan is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

Spawn Location
Pelagic
Size at Maturity
1cm TL

Males sometimes mature below 1 cm; females a little over 1.1 cm. The eggs are pelagic. Upon hatching, the young swims at the surface for a short while, then settles at the bottom.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; demersal; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 12 m. Tropical; 14°N - 13°N found only in the Philippines in Lakes Buhi, Bato, Katugday and Manapao in Camarines Sur Province and along the Bicol River system.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater ⬇️ Benthic
Migration
Non-migratory
Trophic Level
3.1±0.3

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00575 × L3.13 (TL)
Max TL
2.5cm
Dorsal Spines
4
Dorsal Rays
7
Anal Spines
1
Anal Rays
9

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Vulnerable
Assessment Date
2020

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
10.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.1
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Smith, 1902

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Sinarapan is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for Sinarapan is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Sinarapan has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Gobiopterus luzonensis Smith 1902 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 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 Sinarapan ↗
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.