Taxonomy & naming
Weber and de Beaufort described the species in 1922, originally in another genus, and it now sits in Adrianichthys; the authority is therefore in parentheses. The specific name is a patronym honouring the Dutch zoologist Popta, who also described Oryzias sarasinorum.
Morphology
A large, elongate buntingi in the genus Adrianichthys, much bigger than the lake's Oryzias. FishBase gives a maximum of 6.5 in SL.
Habitat
Endemic to Lake Poso, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. FishBase describes it as a freshwater, pelagic fish and gives a pH range of 7.5 to 8.5 and a temperature range of 24 to 29 C.
Feeding
Diet has not been described for this species.
Mating
Courtship has not been described.
Breeding
FishBase reports that the eggs are attached to the body between the pelvic fins and carried there, protected, until hatching. Clutch size and incubation time have not been published.
In the aquarium
Not kept in aquaria; no hobby history.
Conservation
The IUCN Red List classes Adrianichthys poptae as Endangered, meaning it faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Introduced fishes, fishing and habitat change in Lake Poso are the concerns for the lake's endemic buntingi.