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Himri (Carasobarbus luteus) — Cyprinidae

Himri

Carasobarbus luteus
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Himri (Carasobarbus luteus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 49 cm.

Length
48.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Tigris-Euphrates (Near East)
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The himri is a large cyprinid from fresh and slightly brackish water of the Near East, mainly in the Tigris and Euphrates basin. The species grows to about 48 cm and has a stocky, golden-yellow to silvery body with large scales. As a bottom-feeder it lives in rivers, lakes and reservoirs and feeds on algae, invertebrates and plant matter. It is an important and valued food fish in the region. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Himri?

The Himri has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a plain pattern. Stocky yellow-golden body with large scales; bottom-foraging barbel

Where does the Himri live?

The Himri lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Tigris-Euphrates (Near East)

How big does the Himri get?

The Himri grows to a maximum of about 49 cm.

Is the Himri dangerous to humans?

No, the Himri 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 Himri edible?

Yes, the Himri is commonly eaten.

More photos

Himri (Carasobarbus luteus) — Cyprinidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Borkenhagen K, Krupp F (CC BY 3.0)
Himri (Carasobarbus luteus) — Cyprinidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Koray Öğreten, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Himri (Carasobarbus luteus) — Cyprinidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) zoltshmack, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Himri (Carasobarbus luteus) — Cyprinidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) zoltshmack, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Himri verified
Scientific name
Carasobarbus luteus
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Yellow barbel; Yellow barbell sourced

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
48.5 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Tigris-Euphrates (Near East) verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Algae, invertebrates and plant material inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Bottom-foraging river barbel; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Stocky yellow-golden body with large scales; bottom-foraging barbel sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Nets and handlines sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
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 Carasobarbus

More from the family Cyprinidae

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