Home · Cyprinidae · Snoutfin yellowfish
Snoutfin yellowfish (Labeobarbus progenys) — Cyprinidae

Snoutfin yellowfish

Labeobarbus progenys
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Snoutfin yellowfish (Labeobarbus progenys) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Widespread in West and Central Africa, including the Dja, the Cross and the middle Congo basin; tropical freshwater.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Snoutfin yellowfish?

Get the app

Description

Labeobarbus progenys is an African barb widespread in West-Central Africa, including the Dja (Congo basin), the Cross in Cameroon and near Dundo in Angola. It grows to about 18 centimetres and lives benthopelagically in tropical fresh water. Distinctive are the superior mouth with well-developed, fleshy lips and a strongly depressed dorsal profile. The body is elongate. Like other barbs the species is an omnivore. The fish has a single continuous dorsal fin. The species is harmless to humans and of no fishing interest.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Snoutfin yellowfish?

The Snoutfin yellowfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Superior mouth with fleshy lips and a strongly flattened dorsal profile.

Where does the Snoutfin yellowfish live?

The Snoutfin yellowfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Widespread in West and Central Africa, including the Dja, the Cross and the middle Congo basin; tropical freshwater.

How big does the Snoutfin yellowfish get?

The Snoutfin yellowfish grows to a maximum of about 18 cm.

Is the Snoutfin yellowfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Snoutfin yellowfish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Snoutfin yellowfish edible?

The Snoutfin yellowfish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Snoutfin yellowfish (Labeobarbus progenys) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) joe_cutler, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Snoutfin yellowfish (Labeobarbus progenys) — Cyprinidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — J. Green (Public domain)
Snoutfin yellowfish (Labeobarbus progenys) — Cyprinidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) joe_cutler, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Snoutfin yellowfish (Labeobarbus progenys) — Cyprinidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Gina Walsh, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Snoutfin yellowfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Snoutfin yellowfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Snoutfin yellowfish sourced
Scientific name
Labeobarbus progenys
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked sourced
Mouth position
Superior (upward) verified
Lips
Thick / fleshy verified
Barbels
Yes inferred
Dorsal fins
One continuous verified
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Widespread in West and Central Africa, including the Dja, the Cross and the middle Congo basin; tropical freshwater. verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Algae, detritus and small invertebrates from the water surface and the bottom. inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Freshwater fish of West and Central Africa; reproduction probably coincides with the rainy season. inferred
Special features
Superior mouth with fleshy lips and a strongly flattened dorsal profile. verified

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Labeobarbus

Labeobarbus ansorgii — Cyprinidae
Labeobarbus ansorgii
Labeobarbus ansorgii
Cyprinidae
 Axelrod's yellowfish (Labeobarbus axelrodi) — Cyprinidae
Axelrod's yellowfish
Labeobarbus axelrodi
Cyprinidae
 Tanganyika yellowfish (Labeobarbus caudovittatus) — Cyprinidae
Tanganyika yellowfish
Labeobarbus caudovittatus
Cyprinidae
 Bates's barb (Labeobarbus batesii) — Cyprinidae
Bates's barb
Labeobarbus batesii
Cyprinidae
 African scraping feeder (Labeobarbus beso) — Cyprinidae
African scraping feeder
Labeobarbus beso
Cyprinidae
 Labeobarbus boulengeri — Cyprinidae
Labeobarbus boulengeri
Labeobarbus boulengeri
Cyprinidae

More from the family Cyprinidae

Aboine barb (Enteromius aboinensis) — Cyprinidae
Aboine barb
Enteromius aboinensis
Cyprinidae
 Eightbarbel gudgeon (Gobiobotia pappenheimi) — Cyprinidae
Eightbarbel gudgeon
Gobiobotia pappenheimi
Cyprinidae
 Eightband false barb (Eirmotus octozona) — Cyprinidae
Eightband false barb
Eirmotus octozona
Cyprinidae
 African banded barb (Enteromius fasciolatus) — Cyprinidae
African banded barb
Enteromius fasciolatus
Cyprinidae
 African carp (Labeo coubie) — Cyprinidae
African carp (Labeo coubie)
Cyprinidae
 African carplet (Raiamas salmolucius) — Cyprinidae
African carplet
Raiamas salmolucius
Cyprinidae
 Modest minnow (Leptocypris modestus) — Cyprinidae
Modest minnow
Leptocypris modestus
Cyprinidae
 Dembea garra (Garra dembeensis) — Cyprinidae
Dembea garra
Garra dembeensis
Cyprinidae
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Snoutfin yellowfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Snoutfin yellowfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Snoutfin yellowfish? Get the app