Mediterranean barbel (Barbus meridionalis)

Scientific name: Barbus meridionalis Risso, 1827

Mediterranean barbel (Barbus meridionalis)

The Mediterranean barbel (Barbus meridionalis) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 5–25°C (41–77°F).

Mediterranean barbel care at a glance

Temperature
5–25°C (41–77°F)

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. Caudal fin with 16-19 rays.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Barbus meridionalis
Family
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order
Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
27.0
Common length
20.0
Environment
Freshwater; benthopelagic
Climate
Temperate
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. Barbus meridionalis graellsii found in southern France and central and northern Spain (now recognized as species). The Italian populations now recognized as Barbus caninus. Appendix III of the Bern Convention (protected fauna).
Conservation status (IUCN)
Near Threatened (NT)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.14; Fec=669)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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