paedocypris progcnetica is the smallest fish
Paedocypris is an Indonesian genus of fish in the family Cyprinidae (which also includes carps and minnows). Previously the two species, Paedocypris progenetica and Paedocypris micromegethes were known. In 2006 however, an undescribed third species was discovered in Bukit Bauk, Terengganu in Malaysia. Paedocypris progenetica has been claimed to be the smallest known species of fish and vertebrate in the world. The smallest mature female measured 7.9 mm and the largest known individual 10.3 mm. Taxonomy Both species were discovered and identified by ichthyologists Maurice Kottelat from Switzerland and Tan Heok Hui from the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research and the National University of Singapore in 1996. Their osteology was studied by Ralf Britz at London's Natural History Museum. In 1994, the same ichthyologists had already discovered in Sarawak (Malaysian part of Borneo) another miniature species of the same genus Paedocypris. Like P. progenetica, P. micromegethes was ...