Luciobarbus comizo (Steindachner, 1864)
Iberian barbel
Luciobarbus comizo
photo by Ribeiro, F.

Family:  Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Barbinae
Max. size:  80 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Europe: Portugal and Spain in Tagus and Guadiana drainages. Extirpated in Guadalquivir drainage, Spain (Ref. 59043).
Diagnosis:  Diagnosed from other species of Barbus and Luciobarbus in Iberian Peninsula by having the following characters: orbit touching or protruding out of dorsal head profile when viewed laterally; dorsal head profile concave in adults; last simple dorsal ray spinous, strongly serrated posteriorly; lower lip thin, without medina lobe; tip of lower jaw covered by lower lip; lateral line with 48-53 scales; head length 27-34% SL; and snout length 2.3-2.8 times in HL (Ref. 59043).
Biology:  Inhabit middle and lower reaches, in deep and slow water, with abundant submerged plants (Ref. 11240). Feed on invertebrates, plants and fish (Ref. 26100). Juveniles prey on invertebrates while large adult individuals are mainly piscivorous. Spawn probably in May-June (Ref. 59043). Threatened by pollution, habitat destruction, introduction of new species (Ref. 26100) and water abstraction (Ref. 59043). Attains up to about 80 cm SL (Ref. 59043).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 31 January 2006 (A2ce) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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