| Family: |
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Torinae |
| Max. size: |
90 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 0 - 50 m |
| Distribution: |
Africa: known from the Middle Akagera (Ref. 27626), Rusizi River, Lake Kivu, Lake Edward, Lake George, Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga drainages, and northern part of Lake Tanganyika (Ref. 27626, 107916). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 2-3; Anal soft rays: 5-6. The anterior barbel reaches the middle of the eye but in general, it is very short, not reaching the anterior side of the eye; the posterior barbel always reaches beyond the anterior eye, sometimes including the anterior side of the operculae; lips well-developed. Sometimes, an outgrowth is present on the snout (Ref. 27626). |
| Biology: |
In Lake Victoria drainage: inshore waters and affluent rivers (Ref. 4903, 34290). Young occur in shoals (Ref. 36900) in riverine habitats while adults occur in both riverine and lacustrine habitats (Ref. 34291). Swims upstream to spawn (Ref. 36900), probably in swift, rocky upper reaches of rivers (Ref. 34291). Feeds on gastropod molluscs, insects, plants, fishes and crustacea (Ref. 12526). In lakes Edward and George: in shallow water (Ref. 4903). In Rusizi River system: migrates to small upstream rivers to spawn (Ref. 87863). Oviparous (Ref. 205). A food fish for humans (Ref. 4537), but not of great economic importance (Ref. 4903). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 October 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
