Threespot barb (Barbus trimaculatus) fish species and information / pictures of Threespot barb - Barbus trimaculatus

Threespot barb (Barbus trimaculatus) fish species information

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Scientific Name
Barbus trimaculatus

Common Name
Threespot barb

Biology
Found in shallow water near river outlets or close to swampy areas. Hardy, commonly occurs in a wide variety of habitats, especially where there is vegetation. Feeds on insects and other small organisms. Used as bait for the tigerfish. Breeds in summer, shoals of ripe adults moving upstream in spate after rain. Females produce as many as 8,000 eggs.

Classification

Classified By

Peters, 1852

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Carps (Cypriniformes)

Family

Minnows or carps (Cyprinidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: Zambezi River system, Lake Ngami and Cubango rivers; Lake Malawi and the Ruo River; Lake Bangweulu and associated Comati and Vaal Rivers systems; Kunene and Cubango Rivers. East coast from Ruvuma, Tanzania to Umvoti, Natal, also Orange, Cunene and Zambian Congo systems.

Range

9°S - 30°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

24 °C

Water Temperature To

26 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous

Trophic Level

3.22 s.e. 0.39 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

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

15.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown 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

Aquarium: commercial; bait: usually

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (10 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=1.40)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)