title: Hampala macrolepidota
text: # Hampala macrolepidota
  
  The hampala barb (Hampala macrolepidota) is a relatively large southeast Asian species of cyprinid from the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, as well as Peninsular Malaysia and the Greater Sundas (Borneo, Java and Sumatra). It prefers running rivers and streams, but can be seen in most freshwater habitats except torrents, small creeks and shallow swamps. This predatory species reaches up to 70 cm (2.3 ft) in length and it is common at half that size.
  
  ## As food
  
  This fish is one of the fish species that has been used as food in Southeast Asia since ancient times.
  
  Although it is an important food fish, it remains abundant in at least parts of its range, resulting in a Least Concern rating by the IUCN.
  
  