Orange river mudfish (Labeo capensis)

Scientific name: Labeo capensis Smith, 1841

Orange river mudfish (Labeo capensis)

The Orange river mudfish (Labeo capensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae.

Biology

Occurs in a variety of habitats: quiet well vegetated backwaters, standing open waters, flowing open waters, sandy-rocky stretches and rocky rapids. Their preferred habitat is flowing rocky channels. Bottom feeder which grazes algae and organic detritus. Breeds in summer, gathering in large numbers in shallow rocky rapids where eggs are laid. Larvae hatch after 3 or 4 days. May live up to 8 or 9 years.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Labeo capensis
Family
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order
Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
50.0
Common length
45.0
Environment
Freshwater; benthopelagic
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Africa: within the drainage basin of the Orange-Vaal River system to which it is possibly restricted. Hitherto thought to occur in the Limpopo system and in southern Cape watersheds which records may be erroneous.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: of potential interest; aquaculture: experimental; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

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