| Family: |
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Torinae |
| Max. size: |
47 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 6,000.0 g |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater, potamodromous |
| Distribution: |
Africa: widespread from the middle and lower Zambezi south to the Phongolo system (Ref. 7248, 52193). Also known from the Luachimo River, middle Congo River basin, in Angola (Ref. 11970, 120641). Reported as Labeobarbus cf. marequensis from the lower Congo (Ref. 94750); needs confirmation. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 4-4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Description: Mouth subterminal, variation in mouth-shape, including chisel-mouthed forms; lips extremely variable; 2 pairs of barbels; males and females develop small tubercles on top and side of head and on anal fin rays (Ref. 52193, 75045).Dorsal fin with 4 spines and 8-10 soft rays; anal fin with 3 unbranched and 5 branched rays; no ossified last simple dorsal-fin ray, flexible and height extremely variable, even within one population; dorsal fin in front of origin of pelvic fins (Ref. 52193, 75045). Scales large; scales in lateral line 27-33, 12 around caudal peduncle (Ref. 52193). Colouration: Colour varies with water clarity from pale olive to bright golden brown (Ref. 52193). Juveniles silvery with dark blotches (Ref. 52193). |
| Biology: |
Prefers flowing waters of perennial rivers; uncommon in dams (Ref. 52193). It feeds on a wide variety of food items, primarily algae and aquatic insect larvae; also small fishes, snails, freshwater mussels and drifting organisms such as beetles and ants (Ref. 52193). Breeds in spring and summer, migrating upstream in rain swollen rivers to spawn in rapids; males mature at 70 mm FL, females mature at 280 mm FL (Ref. 52193). Occurs with the bushveld smallscale yellowfish, Labeobarbus polylepis in southern Limpopo tributaries (Ref. 7248, 52193). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 February 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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