Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton)

Chan, Jeffery C. F., Tsang, Alphonse H. F., Yau, Sze-man, Hui, Tommy C. H., Lau, Anthony, Tan, Heok Hui, Low, Bi Wei, Dudgeon, David & Liew, Jia Huan, 2023, The non-native freshwater fishes of Hong Kong: diversity, distributions, and origins, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 71, pp. 128-168 : 135

Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton)

Distribution. Wong Lung Hang, Lam Tsuen River (DSD, 2021); Ng Tung River, Ho Chung River (GBIF.org, 2021).

Native range. South Asia.

Remarks. Fingerlings are sold as feeder fish for large, carnivorous ornamental species and are sometimes released during Buddhist rituals.

Distribution. Sandy Ridge Cemetery ( Chan, 2001; Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited, 2016); Kam Tin River (Black & Veatch Hong Kong Limited, 2005; current survey); Wo Shang Wai area (Mott Connell Limited, 2008); San Tau area (Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited, 2009); High Island Reservoir, Ho Pui Reservoir, Hok Tau Reservoir, Shing Mun Reservoir, Kowloon Reservoir, Kowloon Reception Reservoir, Pok Fu Lam Reservoir ( Lai, 2011; current survey); Tai Lam Chung Reservoir ( Lai, 2011; AFCD, 2021c; GBIF.org, 2021; current survey); Plover Cove Reservoir ( Lai, 2011; GBIF.org, 2021); Kong Nga Po area (Mott MacDonald Hong Kong Limited, 2013); Tai Sheung Tok area (Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited, 2014); Tseng Lan Shue area (Black & Veatch Hong Kong Limited, 2018); Ha Che area (Atkins China Limited, 2020); Nam Wa Po area (DSD, 2020); Shek Kiu Tau area (Mott MacDonald Hong Kong Limited, 2020); Shek Pik Reservoir (AFCD, 2021c); Wong Lung Hang, Shek Kong Stream, Ho Chung River, Yuen Long Bypass Floodway, Lam Tsuen River, Ma Wat River (DSD, 2021); Ng Tung River, Hong Kong Park, Tin Shui Wai River, Yuen Long Park, Tin Shui Wai Park, Kowloon Park, Wetland Park, Sheung Wo Hang Stream, Tai Tam Byewash Reservoir, Plover Cove Reservoir (GBIF.org, 2021, as Cyrpinus carpio and Cyprinus rubrofuscus ); Mai Po Nature Reserve (WWF, 2021)); Sham Tseng Settlement Basin, Aberdeen Upper Reservoir, Hoi Ha Stream, Tai O River, Yung Shue O Stream (current survey).

Native range. Black, Caspian, and Aral seas basins, Europe.

Remarks. Only Cyprinus carpio has been recorded in the results of our DNA barcoding despite citizen science suggesting the presence of both C. carpio and C. rubrofuscus . The latter is not considered to occur in Hong Kong until genetic evidence is obtained. Wild-types are most commonly encountered in Hong Kong’s fresh waters and likely originate from aquaculture while the ornamental variety originate from the aquarium trade, with the latter now becoming increasingly common in village streams. Juvenile ornamental varieties are sometimes released during Buddhist rituals.