Pao leiurus

{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Italic title}} {{Speciesbox | name = | image = | image_caption = | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 18 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Daniels, A. |date=2020 |title=''Pao leiurus'' |volume=2020 |article-number=e.T91348333A91348608 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T91348333A91348608.en |access-date=18 November 2021}}</ref> | taxon = Pao leiurus | authority = (Bleeker, 1850) | synonyms = * ''Tetraodon leiurus'' <small>Bleeker, 1850</small> * ''Monotrete leiurus'' <small>(Bleeker, 1850)</small> }}

'''''Pao leiurus'''''<ref name=Kottelat2013>Kottelat, M. (2013): [http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s27/rbz_S27.pdf The Fishes of the Inland Waters of Southeast Asia: A Catalogue and Core Bibliography of the Fishes Known to Occur in Freshwaters, Mangroves and Estuaries.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202225925/http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s27/rbz_S27.pdf |date=2013-12-02 }} ''The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 2013, Supplement No. 27: 1–663.''</ref> is a species of pufferfish found in Southeast Asia from Thailand to Indonesia and in particular the Mekong basin.<ref name="fishbase">{{FishBase | genus = Monotrete| species = leiurus | year = 2012| month = October}}</ref> It is occasionally imported into the aquarium trade but is reported to be aggressive and snappish.<ref name="fishbase"/>

==Characteristics== ''P. leiurus'', which grows to around {{convert|16|cm|abbr=on}}, can be identified by dirty brown, brownish grey or gray markings on the upper part of the body which is poorly separated from markings on the lower body which tends to be dirty off-white, yellowish or pale grey with dusky mottling or spots.<ref name="fishbase"/> ''P. leiurus'' also typically display occelated spots which may be red, green or blue.<ref name="fishbase"/>

''P. leiurus'' are typically found in tropical freshwater or brackish water, with temperatures ranging between 24 °C and 28 °C, including streams and rivers in upland and lowland areas, flowing and standing water habitats, swamps, and reservoirs.<ref name="fishbase"/>

Like most Tetraodontidae, ''P. leiurus'' is a molluscivore and feeds on molluscs, crustaceans, and other invertebrates.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://fishbase.org/Photos/PicturesSummary.php?ID=16134&what=species Photograph]

Category:Tetraodontidae Category:Freshwater fish of Malaysia Category:Freshwater fish of Indonesia Category:Fish of Singapore Category:Fish of Thailand Category:Fish of the Mekong Basin Category:Brackish water organisms Category:Fish described in 1850 Category:Taxa named by Pieter Bleeker