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Chubbyhead barb (Enteromius anoplus) — Cyprinidae

Chubbyhead barb

Enteromius anoplus
Family: Cyprinidae
NativeIntroduced

The Chubbyhead barb (Enteromius anoplus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: South Africa
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The chubbyhead barb is a small cyprinid (Cyprinidae) from fresh water of southern Africa. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a stocky, silvery body with a fairly large head and short barbels. As a hardy, schooling fish it lives in a variety of streams, rivers and pools and eats small invertebrates, algae and detritus. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Chubbyhead barb?

The Chubbyhead barb has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Chubbyhead barb live?

The Chubbyhead barb lives in brackish water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Africa: South Africa

How big does the Chubbyhead barb get?

The Chubbyhead barb grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Chubbyhead barb dangerous to humans?

No, the Chubbyhead barb is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Chubbyhead barb edible?

The Chubbyhead barb is rarely eaten.

More photos

Chubbyhead barb (Enteromius anoplus) — Cyprinidae — 2
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Chubbyhead barb (Enteromius anoplus) — Cyprinidae — 3
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Chubbyhead barb (Enteromius anoplus) — Cyprinidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Pieter Kotze, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Chubbyhead barb (Enteromius anoplus) — Cyprinidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Pieter Kotze, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Chubbyhead barb sourced
Scientific name
Enteromius anoplus
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Chubbyhead barb verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Africa: South Africa sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
2.0 verified
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten inferred
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Enteromius

More from the family Cyprinidae

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