Orange River mudfish

Orange River mudfish
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
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

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

Size

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

Biology and ecology

L. capensis from the Fish River in Namibia

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

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.
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

Orange River mudfish on FishBase

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[iucn-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.

[:0-2] 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.