Mediterranean barbel (Barbus meridionalis) fish species and information / pictures of Mediterranean barbel - Barbus meridionalis

Mediterranean barbel (Barbus meridionalis) fish species information

Scientific Name
Barbus meridionalis

Common Name
Mediterranean barbel

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 3 - 4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-9; Anal spines: 2 - 3; Anal soft rays: 5 - 6; Vertebrae: 34 - 35. Diagnosed from other species of Barbus and Luciobarbus in Apennine and Iberian Peninsulas and southern France by the following characters: 44-48 +2 scales on lateral line; 24-28 scale rows around caudal peduncle; head, back, sides and fins with large, irregular black dots; last simple dorsal ray not spinous, flexible, not serrated posteriorly; lower lip thick, with a median swollen pad (Ref. 59043). Caudal fin with 16-19 rays (Ref. 2196).

Classification

Classified By

Risso, 1827

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Carps (Cypriniformes)

Family

Minnows or carps (Cyprinidae)

Distribution

Region

Europe

Distribution

Europe: rivers draining to Mediterranean from Besos (near Barcelona, northeastern Spain) to Var (at Nice, southeastern France) drainages, including Rh?ne as far uprivers as Lyon; some headwaters of Garonne basin in Ari?ge, Tarn and Aveyron (France), apparently native in most, but introduced in at least some upper Tarn localities (Ref. 59043). Barbus meridionalis graellsii found in southern France and central and northern Spain (now recognized as species (Ref. 13696)). The Italian populations now recognized as Barbus caninus (Ref. 13696). Appendix III of the Bern Convention (protected fauna).

Range

53°N - 36°N, 10°W - 29°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

5 °C

Water Temperature To

25 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; benthopelagic

Trophic Level

2.93 s.e. 0.36 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

27.0 cm

Common Length

20.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (51 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.14; Fec=669)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Near Threatened (NT)