Orange River mudfish

Orange River Mudfish (Labeo capensis) is a species of fish in genus Labeo. It inhabits the Orange River system of southern Africa.

Orange River mudfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Genus: Labeo
Species:
L. capensis
Binomial name
Labeo capensis
(A. Smith, 1841)
Synonyms

Abrostomus capensis A. Smith, 1841
Labeo tenuirostris Steindachner, 1894

Size

L.Capensis reaches a maximum length of 500mm and the SA angling record is 3.83kg[2]

Biology & Ecology

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[2]

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

Range

Africa: within the drainage basin of the Orange-Vaal River system to which it is possibly restricted. Introduced to the Fish River system in Eastern Cape.

Uses

Occasional angling species, also used in physiological and ecological research and is a potential commercial species.[2]

References
  1. Swartz, E.; Impson, D. (2007). "Labeo capensis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: 2007: e.T63280A12630903. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63280A12630903.en.
  2. Skelton, Paul H (1993). A Complete Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa. Southern book publishers. pp. 178–179. ISBN 1 86812 493 2.

https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5129



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