Establishment of an albino strain of the bitterling Tanakia signifer (Pisces, Cyprinidae).

An albino strain of the bitterling Tanakia signifer (Pisces, Cyprinidae, Acheilognathinae) was established through interbreeding using an albino male selected from among the offspring produced from the spawning of 18 wild-caught individuals. This is the first report of albinism in this species. Progeny tests demonstrated that inheritance of the trait follows the expected pattern for a simple autosomal recessive. A stock of 200+ individuals is currently being held at the Kannonzaki Nature History Museum, Japan.