The Barred Danio is a small freshwater fish endemic to Sri Lanka, found mainly in streams and rivers of the island’s wet zone. It inhabits clear, shallow waters with moderate currents, rocky bottoms, and areas with aquatic vegetation. This active and fast-moving schooling fish is known for its attractive striped body pattern and agile swimming behaviour. It usually lives in groups and feeds on small insects, insect larvae, tiny crustaceans, and other small aquatic organisms found near the water surface. As a species found only in Sri Lanka, the Barred Danio is an important part of the country’s unique freshwater biodiversity and depends on the conservation of clean, healthy stream habitats.