| Family: |
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Torinae |
| Max. size: |
70.7 cm FL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 1 - 6 m |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Lake Tana and its tributaries, Ethiopia (Ref. 35835, 96382, 128753); also known from another lake and several rivers in the Ethiopian region (Ref. 35835, 96382). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Lower lip forming a distinct median lobe; upper lip well developed, often with a median fleshy lobe; if lobes are absent, often a fleshy 'nose' is present; operculum depth about as large as ventral cheek length; head length less than 1.2 times in body depth. |
| Biology: |
Occurs especially over rocky substrates in water of no more than 6 m depth. Is a macro-benthivore: specimens smaller than 15 cm FL mainly eat insect larvae, but switch to a more diverse diet when their size increases: adult insects, mollusks and detritus become more important; large specimens are the only barbs in Lake Tana that eat freshwater crabs of the genus Potamonautes; and also eat some fish (Ref. 35835). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 May 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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