Lhasa River is rich in fish resources, among which seven kinds of endemic wild fishes are of important economic value.

1. Naked schizothoracin

Naked schizothoracin

Naked schizothoracin, a.k.a. oxygymnocypris stewartii, is an endemic fish in China.

It has cinerous back, incanus lateral, silvery white abdomen and light yellow fins with dark gray spots on its head, back and abdomen.

The wild fish inhabits the waters on the plateau with an altitude above 3600 meters, mostly seen in the major tributaries of the Yarlung Zangbo River.

Due to the high altitude and low average water temperature, the naked schizothoracin adapts to the clear water environment with rainfall and high mountain snow as source. it mainly lives on other fish and aquatic insects.

The largest naked schizothoracin could reach over 600 mm long, weighing more than 3500g. The fish is few in number and grows slowly.

2. Younghusband's schizothoracin

Younghusband's schizothoracin

There are 13 kinds of subspecies of schizothoracin in China with 10 kinds in Tibetan areas, and the vast majority live in outflow water environment with high elevation.

Younghusband's schizothoracin is one of the subspecies. There are no scales on its body except the hip and scapular. It has taupe back, light yellow abdomen with irregular spots on its lateral, head and back. The caudal fin is forked.

The wild fish is distributed in tributaries in the upstream areas of the Yarlung Zangbo River, living on algae.

3. Schizothorax oconnori Lloyd

Schizothorax oconnori Lloyd

Schizothorax oconnori Lloyd has cinerous back and silvery white abdomen with black spots on its lateral, dorsal fin and tail fin. It could be seen in clear water with gravel on the bottom.

The fish lives on algae. Its breeding season is from April to May, and the spawning ground is generally in shoal water.

The wild fish is distributed in upstream and midstream tributaries of the Yarlung Zangbo River.

4. Lhasa schizothoracin

Lhasa schizothoracin

Lhasa schizothoracin has brown back and light yellow abdomen with irregular black spots on its lateral. It could be seen in the deep water of main stream, living on aquatic invertebrates. Its breeding season is from April to June and during the period, shoal of fish could be seen in the joint point of Nyang river and the Yarlung Zangbo River.

It is the main economic fish of its producing areas.

Lhasa schizothoracin is in a relatively large number, with the average weight of more than 500g.

5. Strongbarbel schizothoracin

Strongbarbel schizothoracin

Strongbarbel schizothoracin has black back and lateral and light yellow abdomen with several black spots on its lateral. It lives on aquatic invertebrates and insect.

It is the main economic fish of the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River.

6. Glyptosternum maculatum (Regan)

Glyptosternum maculatum (Regan)

There are no scales covering the fish's body and no adhensive organs on its chest. It has flat head, small eyes, kelly or celadon back and lateral and yellowish-white abdomen with unconspicuous or dense spots.

The fish could be seen in slow-flowing rivers with sandy bottom and lives on benthic invertebrates, insects' eggs or juvenile fish. Every March to May, it will lay eggs in rivers with gravel bottom.

The glyptosternum maculatum is distributed in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River. They are in small number and can be used in Tibetan medicine.

7. Ptychobarbus dipogon

Ptychobarbus dipogon

Ptychobarbus dipogon has cinerous back and silvery white abdomen with black spots on its back and head. The fish is often seen in slow water with gravel ground and lives on aquatic invertebrates.

It is located in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River. It could reach a length of 34.5 cm.

To protect wild fish resources in Lhasa, the local government made protection measures of wild fish in Lhasa, and would implement a comprehensive fishing ban in the Lhasa River from August 15.