[Freshwater fish] Order Cypriniformes Family Cyprinidae(Minnows or carps) Subfamily Opsariichthyinae(synonym/Ex-danioninae) Three-lips(Korean piscivorous chub) Opsariichthys uncirostris(Temminck & Schlegel,1846). 40 cmTL Korean name/ggeu-ri(끄리) Japanese name/コウライハス(고라이 하스; go-rai-hass) Chinese name; 馬口魚(구마어) Dorsal spines 3, Dorsal soft rays 7. Anal spines 3, Anal soft rays 9. LL/46-48. Vert/44. Gill raker/12~14
Distribution; Asia/Korea(streams flow to west and south coasts from Yalu river south to Seom-jin river of the peninsula), Eastern Siberia, China, and Japan. General; Body elongated and the whole body including the head strongly compressed laterally. Eye small. Snout elongated. Mouth big and the posterior end of upper jaw reaches below anterior margin of eye. Easily differentiate by the very peculiar mouth shape; the mouth, when seen from side, bow or hook shape; when seen from front side, the tip of lower jaw is vertically flipped V shape and upper jaw sharply concaved into the other way. When mouth closed, both jaws interlock like saw teeth; very efficient structure not to lose prey hunted. Absent in barbels. Lateral line complete and strongly curved down. Origins of dorsal and pelvic fins located in almost symmetrical position. Spine of dorsal fin well developed like a strong gimlet.
Dark brown dorsally, flank with pale brown and ventral side with silvery white color. Variable in color mode; often with scattered irregular patterns and grayish brown ground color. All fins with blackish blue or greenish hue. Semicircular red spot on upper part of eye. A bluish green lateral stripe on body side, but often indistinct. Often with blackish brown color on upper and lower margin of caudal fin. In spawning season shows pale yellow or pale red orange color on body side. In nuptial period, male’s front head shows blackish color and all fins get deep red color; lateral stripe reveal distinct; nuptial tubercles on snout, opercula, and anal fin.
Inhabits large streams and lakes in drainage system that flow to west and south coasts from Yalu River south to Seom-jin River of the Korean peninsula. Swim fast near surface in schools, leap occasionally. Stay near surface in summer, near bottom in winter. Voracious predator with relatively large body size. Feed on small fishes, aquatic and terrestrial insects. Spawn in May to June. Fish food clean in taste; cook fry or salted grill. Popular game fish in lure fishing.
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