| Family: |
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Labeoninae |
| Max. size: |
39 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater, potamodromous |
| Distribution: |
Africa: present in Lake Malawi basin (Ref. 1878, 52161, 55909, 96560), Juba system (1440) and Ruvuma River (Ref. 1440, 97286). Status Tana River population is uncertain (Ref. 52331). Reports from the Lufira River, Upper Congo River basin (Ref. 1440, 26190), are misidentifications of Labeo rosae (Ref. 96560). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 5-5; Vertebrae: 34-34. Description: Body strongly compressed, its depth 3.50-4.25 times in total length; head 4-5 times in total length, its width 2/3 of its length (Ref. 1878). Caudal peduncle 1.5 times as long as deep (Ref. 1878). Snout rounded and not fleshy or warty; eye perfectly lateral, in middle of head, 4.5-5.0 times in head length; interorbital width 3/5 of head length; width of mouth, with lips, 2.5-3.0 times in head length; both lips with several rows of papillae, those of the outer row conical and forming a fringe; edge of rostral flap entire; a minute barbel hidden under folds of skin; tubercles on snout small (Ref. 4967). Dorsal fin with 3 spines and 10-12 soft rays, equally distant from centre or anterior border of eye and from caudal fin, notched, longest ray as long as head length; anal fin with 3 spines and 5 soft rays, not reaching caudal fin; pectoral fin as long as head length, not reaching pelvic fin, the first ray of which falls below 4th or 5th ray of dorsal fin; caudal fin emarginate, crescentic (Ref. 1878). Scales on lateral line 38-40, 4-5 scales between lateral line and pelvic fin; 16-18 scales around caudal peduncle (Ref. 1878). Colouration: Olive-brown above, lighter beneath (Ref. 1878). |
| Biology: |
Found in shallow water over sandy bottoms (Ref. 5595, 52161). Is a mud-feeder (Ref. 52161), feeds from the biocover and sediment on the sand (Ref. 5595). Also caught using weirs and baskets; formerly very abundant in Malawi, but now rare except where rivers drain undisturbed soil; possible that silt prevents development of eggs (Ref. 4967). Indications that it may leave the lake and run up rivers to spawn (Ref. 52161). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 23 May 2018 (A2ac+3cd) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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