The Russian bitterling (Acheilognathus asmussii), or spiny bitterling, is a temperate freshwater fish belonging to the Acheilognathinae sub-family of the Cyprinidae family. It originates in the Amur River basin in Asia, and is found in China and Russia. It was originally described as Devario asmussii by Benedykt Dybowski in 1872.The fish will grow in length up to 16 centimetres (6 in). It lives in a temperate climate in water with a temperature range of 18°C to 22°C (64°F to 72°F).