Pungwe chiselmouth (Varicorhinus pungweensis)

Scientific name: Varicorhinus pungweensis Jubb, 1959

The Pungwe chiselmouth (Varicorhinus pungweensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. Native range: Africa, Pungwe-Buzi Rivers in Zimbabwe and Mozambique; also the Ruo, tributary to the lower Shire (Zambezi) in Malawi.

Biology

Favors rocky rapids of cool, clear mountain streams. Scrapes algae and insects from the rocks. Breeds in spring-summer, young found in deep pools below rapids. Occasionally caught by anglers and subsistence fishers.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Varicorhinus pungweensis
Family
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order
Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
18.0
Environment
Freshwater; benthopelagic
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Africa: Pungwe-Buzi Rivers in Zimbabwe and Mozambique; also the Ruo, tributary to the lower Shire (Zambezi) in Malawi.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 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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