Labeobarbus aeneus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	CYPRINIFORMES	CYPRINIDAE

Scientific Name:

Labeobarbus aeneus

Species Authority:

(Burchell, 1822)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Vaal-orange Smallmouth Yellowfish

Synonym/s:

Barbus aeneus Burchell, 1822

Taxonomic Notes:

This species cannot be distinguished from Labeobarbus kimberleyensis with mitochondrial DNA even though they seem to be morphologically distinct. More information is needed to assess whether hybridisation is occurring between these sympatric species.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Assessed:	2007
Assessor/s	Swartz, E. & Impson, D.
Evaluator/s:	Snoeks, J. (Freshwater Fish Red List Authority) & Darwall, W. (Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment Unit)
Justification: Widespread and common across the Orange River system. Habitat in places such as the middle Vaal is deteriorating, but several areas exists where there are low impacts.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Occurs naturally in the Orange River system. It has been translocated widely in South Africa to the Gourits, Great Fish, Kei and Limpopo River systems and even to the Matirikwe Dam in Zimbabwe (Skelton 2001).
Countries:	Native: Lesotho; Namibia; South Africa (Eastern Cape Province - Reintroduced, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal - Presence Uncertain, Limpopo Province - Presence Uncertain, Mpumalanga - Reintroduced, Northern Cape Province, North-West Province, Western Cape Province - Reintroduced) Reintroduced: Zimbabwe

Population [top]

Population:	No information is available on population trends.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It prefers sandy and rocky substrates of clear and flowing water of large rivers, but also tolerates turbid rivers. It does well in large dams. It occurs in sympatry with Labeobarbus kimberleyensis but is more widespread, since it occurs at higher altitudes and in smaller tributary streams than the latter species. Migrates to suitable gravel beds and breeds in spring to midsummer after major summer rains. Omnivorous with benthic invertebrates, bivalve molluscs, vegetation, algae and detritus as major food sources (Skelton 2001).
Systems:	Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

It prefers sandy and rocky substrates of clear and flowing water of large rivers, but also tolerates turbid rivers. It does well in large dams. It occurs in sympatry with Labeobarbus kimberleyensis but is more widespread, since it occurs at higher altitudes and in smaller tributary streams than the latter species. Migrates to suitable gravel beds and breeds in spring to midsummer after major summer rains. Omnivorous with benthic invertebrates, bivalve molluscs, vegetation, algae and detritus as major food sources (Skelton 2001).

Systems:

Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Potential hybridisation between this species and Labeobarbus kimberleyensis must be investigated further, since it can be caused by river regulation and the destruction of different habitat types. Pollution, especially sewage overflow during floods is a major threat near industrial centers such as Gauteng Province in South Africa. Major fish kills have occurred in recent years in the Vaal River due to sewage spillage, but there are many rivers where this species is abundant and secure from pollution.

Major Threat(s):

Potential hybridisation between this species and Labeobarbus kimberleyensis must be investigated further, since it can be caused by river regulation and the destruction of different habitat types. Pollution, especially sewage overflow during floods is a major threat near industrial centers such as Gauteng Province in South Africa. Major fish kills have occurred in recent years in the Vaal River due to sewage spillage, but there are many rivers where this species is abundant and secure from pollution.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Flow regulation has to be evaluated based on the results of hybridisation investigations and the South African river health program can address pollution problems from Gauteng Province.

Conservation Actions:

Flow regulation has to be evaluated based on the results of hybridisation investigations and the South African river health program can address pollution problems from Gauteng Province.

Citation:	Swartz, E. & Impson, D. 2007. Labeobarbus aeneus. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 February 2010.
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