Freshwater fish and mammals live in lakes and rivers. Well, here are four freshwater animals native to Indonesia!
Bilis Fish (Anchovy)
Bilis or bilih or bako, we can find in West Sumatra, precisely in Lake Singkarak, Lake Maninjau, and small rivers in the vicinity, such as the Batang Sumpur, Paninggahan, and Muaro Pingai rivers. Anchovies can also be found in Lake Toba, North Sumatra.
The anchovy is only 116 millimeters long. It is white in color with silver scales. The dorsal and caudal fins are black. When about to lay eggs, the anchovy migrates upstream. It lays eggs by welcoming the flow of river water which empties into the lake.
Usually, this fish is processed by drying and salting it to make it durable. It feels so good!
Asian Arowana Fish
Asian Arowana fish or red siluk can be found on the islands of Borneo and Papua. In general, Arowana fish are silvery in color, have a flat body, and are between 30-80 cm long when mature. The mouth of this fish is pointed upwards and there are a pair of barbels on its lower lip, which makes this fish look like a dragon lion. That is why some people call it kimliong or golden dragonfish.
Baca juga: Do You Know? This is How Our Pets Talk
Belida Fish (Chitala)
Belida fish or belido or lopis, is a freshwater fish that we can find in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, and the Malay Peninsula.
The hallmark of the belida fish is that its body is like a knife, its belly looks wide and flat. The head is concave. The jaws will grow longer as the fish ages.
The weight of an adult belida fish can reach 1.5 – 7 kg. Once laying eggs, a female fish produces an average of 288 eggs. This fish is the raw material for making kemplang crackers, typical Palembang crackers.
Irrawaddy Dolphin (Pesut Mahakam)
The Irrawaddy dolphin, which is often called the freshwater dolphin, is actually a mammal. It breathes through the lungs and reproduces by giving birth. So not fish.
