Home · Cyprinidae · Eastern Cape redfin
Eastern Cape redfin (Pseudobarbus afer) — Cyprinidae

Eastern Cape redfin

Pseudobarbus afer
Family: Cyprinidae
EN · Endangered

The Eastern Cape redfin (Pseudobarbus afer) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
8.9 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Eastern Cape redfin is a small cyprinid (Cyprinidae) endemic to clear rivers of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. The species grows to about 9 cm and has a slender, yellow-brown body with reddish fins, especially in breeding individuals. As a schooling fish it lives in clear mountain streams and pools and eats small insects, larvae, algae and detritus. Through introduced predators and habitat loss the species is endangered. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Eastern Cape redfin?

The Eastern Cape redfin has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Eastern Cape redfin live?

The Eastern Cape redfin lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Eastern Cape redfin get?

The Eastern Cape redfin grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Eastern Cape redfin dangerous to humans?

No, the Eastern Cape redfin is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Oost-Kaapse roodvin sourced
English name
Eastern Cape redfin sourced
Scientific name
Pseudobarbus afer
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Eastern Cape Redfin; Eastern Cape redfin verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.9 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Pseudobarbus

More from the family Cyprinidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →