Barbus bifrenatus

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:

Barbus bifrenatus

Species Authority:

Fowler, 1935

Common Name/s:

English

–

Hyphen Barb

Taxonomic Notes:

Further study needed of different populations.
The genus Barbus (Cyprinidae) is restricted to a small number of species mainly inhabiting the European ichthyographic region including Northeast Africa. Most of the African species which are currently included in the genus, taxonomically do not appear to be closely related to the genus Barbus sensu strictu. However, no attempts have yet been made at an adequate nomenclature of the African forms. We therefore follow Berrebi et al. (1996) and use in this assessment the term ‘Barbus’ for the cyprinid fish species which were previously considered as Barbus (Seegers et al. 2003).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2010

Assessor/s:

Moelants, T., Tweddle, D. & Vreven, E.

Reviewer/s:

Snoeks, J., Tweddle, D., Getahun, A., Lalèyè, P., Paugy, D., Zaiss, R., Fishar, M.R.A & Brooks, E.

Justification:
This species has a wide distribution, with no known major widespread threats. It is therefore listed as Least Concern. It has also been assessed regionally as Least Concern for central, east and southern Africa.

History:

2006

–

Least Concern (IUCN 2006)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Barbus bifrenatus is widely distributed in the southern half of Africa. Central Africa: Barbus bifrenatus is known from the Zambian Congo system. Eastern Africa: This species occurs in the catchment of Lake Malawi, (never recorded in the Lake Malawi itself). It has not been recorded south of Nkhotakota streams. It is also known from the Lufubu basin, Lake Tanganyika. Isolated populations occur in Malawi and on the eastern shores of Lake St. Lucia in Natal. (Skelton 1993). Southern Africa: This species is widely distributed in the upper Zambezi, including several northern tributaries of the Zambezi (Tweddle et al. 2004). Also widespread in the Cunene, Okavango, Kafue, Zambian Congo and Limpopo systems and northern Lake Malawi streams (Skelton 2001).
Countries:	Native: Angola; Botswana; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Malawi; Namibia; South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal); Zambia; Zimbabwe
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	Thought to be common to abundant in most streams where it is found.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Barbus bifrenatus is a benthopelagic, potamodromous species. It occurs in floodplains, pools and shallow streams with vegetation (Skelton 1993) and not in strongly flowing rivers. Barbus bifrenatus feeds on detritus, algae, seeds, small invertebrates (Skelton 1993) and aquatic insect larvae (Bell-Cross and Minshull 1988). It migrates upriver to breed after heavy rains (Bell-Cross and Minshull 1988). It breeds in summer, breeding pairs lay eggs on submerged roots and vegetation. Reaches maturity within a year (Skelton 2001).
Systems:	Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

Barbus bifrenatus is a benthopelagic, potamodromous species. It occurs in floodplains, pools and shallow streams with vegetation (Skelton 1993) and not in strongly flowing rivers. Barbus bifrenatus feeds on detritus, algae, seeds, small invertebrates (Skelton 1993) and aquatic insect larvae (Bell-Cross and Minshull 1988). It migrates upriver to breed after heavy rains (Bell-Cross and Minshull 1988). It breeds in summer, breeding pairs lay eggs on submerged roots and vegetation. Reaches maturity within a year (Skelton 2001).

Systems:

Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Although this is an attractive aquarium species (Skelton 1993), given the wide distribution and extensive suitable habitat in the many rivers and streams in which it occurs, there are no major threats to this species.

Major Threat(s):

Although this is an attractive aquarium species (Skelton 1993), given the wide distribution and extensive suitable habitat in the many rivers and streams in which it occurs, there are no major threats to this species.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The species has some protection in reserves in southern Africa. More research is needed into this species population numbers and range, biology and ecology, habitat status and threats, as well as monitoring and potential conservation measures.

Conservation Actions:

The species has some protection in reserves in southern Africa. More research is needed into this species population numbers and range, biology and ecology, habitat status and threats, as well as monitoring and potential conservation measures.

Citation:	Moelants, T., Tweddle, D. & Vreven, E. 2010. Barbus bifrenatus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 07 February 2012.
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