Italian barbel
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Barbinae
Genus: Barbus
Species:
B. plebejus
Binomial name
Barbus plebejus
Bonaparte, 1839

The Italian barbel (Barbus plebejus) is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae, nearly related to the common barbel Barbus barbus. The name barbel derived from the Latin barba, meaning beard, a reference to the two pairs of barbels, a longer pair pointing forwards and slightly down positioned, on the side of the mouth.

Description

Barbus plebejus can reach a maximum length of 70 cm (28 in) in males and a maximum weight of 6 kilograms (13 lb). Usually, it is much smaller. It has a long and slender body, with a mouth equipped with characteristic four barbels (hence the common and genus names). It has greenish back with black dots, sides finely dotted, whitish belly, paired fins tinged with grey and a slightly thorny dorsal ray. Lower lip has a median lobe.

Distribution

The species is found in Croatia, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Habitat

Like the common barbel, these long-lived fishes have their natural habitats in running waters of rivers and rarely freshwater lakes. They inhabit the water just above the bottom (benthopelagic), feeding on benthic invertebrates, small fish and algae. They also migrate within freshwater (potamodromous), for spawning purposes. It is not considered a threatened species by the IUCN.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Freyhof, J. (2020) [errata version of 2011 assessment]. "Barbus plebejus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T2568A174777197. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T2568A174777197.en. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  • Helfman, G., B. Collette i D. Facey: The diversity of fishes. Blackwell Science, Malden, Massachusetts, United States, 1997.
  • Moyle, P. i J. Cech.: Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology, 4th ed., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey (United States): Prentice-Hall. Any 2000.
  • Nelson, J.: Fishes of the World, 3rd. Ed. New York (United States): John Wiley and Sons. Any 1994.
  • Wheeler, A.: The World Encyclopedia of Fishes, 2nd ed., London: Macdonald. Any 1985.

Mitochondrial phylogeny and taxonomic revision of Italian and Slovenian fluvio-lacustrine barbels, Barbus sp. (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae). (n.d.). https://bmczool.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40850-021-00073

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