Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps) > Smiliogastrinae
Etymology: Cheilobarbus: The name Cheilobarbus is derived from the Greek ‘cheilos’ meaning a margin, lip or brim, and the Latin ‘barba’ meaning a beard and referring to the oral barbels. Smith (1841) mentioned the “lips” of these species as being “full and firm”.
Issue
Re-examination of the holotype of Barbus capensis revealed it to be a senior synonym of Pseudobarbus andrewi; the correct name for previous identifications of Barbus capensis should be Labeobarbus seeberi, the southern African clanwilliam yellowfish, while Pseudobarbus capensis is the correct name for previous identifications as Barbus andrewi (Ref. 108777).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Subtropical; 31°S - 34°S
Africa: Berg and Breede River systems, south-western Cape Province in South Africa (Ref. 7248, 119402); also Clanwilliam Olifants River in South Africa (Ref. 111087).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 60.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7248); max. published weight: 3.4 kg (Ref. 7248)
Prefers deep, rocky pools of larger tributaries and mainstreams and does well in dams such as Voëlvlei and Brandvlei. Feeds on bottom-dwelling invertebrates and algae. Breeds in summer, congregating at the head of large, stony pools or at the base of rapids. Eggs are laid in gravel in flowing water and hatch after about 5 days. Has been artificially bred and restocked by conservation authorities (Ref. 7248).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Skelton, P.H., E.R. Swartz and E.J. Vreven, 2018. The identity of Barbus capensis Smith, 1841 and the generic status of southern African tetraploid cyprinids (Teleostei, Cyprinidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 410:1-29. (Ref. 119402)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Endangered (EN) (B1ab(iii,iv,v)+2ab(iii,iv,v)); Date assessed: 30 November 2016
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquaculture: experimental; gamefish: yes
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01175 (0.00447 - 0.03086), b=3.01 (2.78 - 3.24), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.8 ±0.26 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (49 of 100).
