Trigonostigma

Trigonostigma is a genus with 5 species in this atlas, catalogued in the Danios & Rasboras section, recorded from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and 3 more countries. Adult sizes run from 1 in to 2 in. Every species below links to a full researched profile.

Species in atlas
5
Adult sizes
1–2 in
IUCN assessed
5 of 5 · 1 threatened
Recorded from
6 countries

About the genus

Trigonostigma is a genus of small rasboras in family Danionidae, native to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, and Vietnam. Species typically inhabit slow-moving, often blackwater streams, swamps, and peat forests, and most share a distinctive triangular black wedge marking on the body that gives the genus its common identity among aquarists.

The harlequin rasbora (Trigonostigma heteromorpha) is one of the most recognizable and widely kept schooling fish in the freshwater hobby, and its close relatives - the lambchop rasbora (T. espei), the glowlight rasbora (T. hengeli), and Somphong's rasbora (T. somphongsi) - are popular with nano and planted-tank keepers for similar reasons: small adult size (roughly 1–2 in across the genus), peaceful shoaling behavior, and good color under soft, tannin-stained water. Conservation status varies sharply within the genus - three atlas species are Least Concern, but one is assessed Critically Endangered and is flagged for CARES conservation priority, underscoring how localized some of these rasboras' ranges can be.

IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered · 1 Least Concern · 3 Not Evaluated · 1CARES 1 on the priority list

The 5 species

Every Trigonostigma recorded in this atlas. Each card links to a full researched profile — distribution, water parameters, and aquarium care, cited to primary sources. 1 has hobbyist breeding reports (◉).

(Meinken, 1967)

Lambchop rasbora, Espe's rasbora, Red slender harlequin rasbora

1.5 in SL · LC

(Meinken, 1956)

Glowlight rasbora

1 in SL · LC

(Duncker, 1904)

Harlequin rasbora, Harlequin, Blue harlequin

2 in TL · LC

(Meinken, 1958)

Somphong's rasbora

1 in SL · CR CARES

Tan, 2020

2 in TL · NE

Explore further

How to cite

Aquarist Atlas (2026). Genus Trigonostigma. Aquarist Atlas. https://www.aquaristatlas.com/trigonostigma/

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