P. extremus reaches up to 60 cm (2 ft) in length and 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) in weight.[5] Similar to Schizopygopsis, P. extremus has a horny sheath on the lower jaw and spoon-shaped teeth that it uses to scrape off periphyton and algae from stones, but it will also eat benthic invertebrates.[3][6]
An important food fish,[7]P. extremus has seriously declined and is now listed as vulnerable on China's Red List.[1] The species has been bred and raised in captivity,[1] and individuals are released back into the wild from two purposely built stations in an attempt of countering its threatened status.[6]
^Su, J.; W. Ji; Y. Zhang; D.M. Gleeson; Z. Lou; J. Ren; and Y. Wei (2015). Genetic diversity and demographic history of the endangered and endemic fish (Platypharodon extremus): implications for stock enhancement in Qinghai Tibetan Plateau. Environ Biol Fish 98(3): 763–774. doi:10.1007/s10641-014-0310-3
^ abTang, Y.; C. Li; K. Wanghe; C. Feng; C. Tong; F. Tian; and K. Zhao (2019). Convergent evolution misled taxonomy in schizothoracine fishes (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 134: 323–337 doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2019.01.008
^Qi, D.; Y. Chao; Y. Zhao; M. Xia; and R. Wu (2018). Molecular evolution of myoglobin in the Tibetan Plateau endemic schizothoracine fish (Cyprinidae, Teleostei) and tissue-specific expression changes under hypoxia. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 44(2): 557–571. doi:10.1007/s10695-017-0453-1.
^ abQi, D. (2016). Fish of the Upper Yellow River. Pp. 233–252 in: G.J. Brierley et al. (eds.). Landscape and Ecosystem Diversity, Dynamics and Management in the Yellow River Source Zone. Springer Geography. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-30475-5_11
