Danio or Devario and
Why Not Brachydanios?
The species name Brachydanio was declared invalid by Fang Fang of the Swedish Natural History Institution mainly because it was never properly described in
the first place. Originally, Weber & de Beaufort proposed the genus Brachydanio
as a sub genus of Danio. This was to cover fishes that had seven branched
dorsal rays and an incomplete or absent lateral line. Danio was then left for
fish having twelve to sixteen branched dorsal rays and a complete lateral line.
Hora and Myers, elevated Brachydanio to full generic status with information
that was available to them at the time. The Smithsonian Institution book "The
Freshwater Fishes of Siam or Thailand" published in 1945 indicates that a clear
distinction between the two genera cannot be made just taking the above
parameters. The research work of Dr Fang Kullander clarified the situation and
it was she who proposed the erection of the genus Devario. Putting it VERY
simply, fish of the genus Devario, have rudimentary or no barbels and have
vertical (or near) bars along the sides. Danios have barbels and have
horizontal stripes or have spots. The only exception to this at the present
time, is Danio choprae. The exact status of this species is still pending
further research work so for the time being, it remains in the genus Danio.