Home · Cyprinidae · Someren's barb
Someren's barb (Labeobarbus somereni) — Cyprinidae

Someren's barb

Labeobarbus somereni
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Someren's barb (Labeobarbus somereni) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 40 cm.

Length
40 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
High-lying, fast-flowing rivers in the Rwenzori region of East Africa.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Someren's barb?

Get the app

Description

Labeobarbus somereni is a large African barb (Cyprinidae) from high-altitude, fast-flowing rivers in the Ruwenzori area of East Africa. The species has a streamlined, silvery-grey body with yellow tints and barbels, and reaches about 40 cm. Characteristic is the sub-terminal mouth with fleshy lips with which it takes food from the bottom. It inhabits the clear headwaters of mountain rivers to high altitude. The diet is varied and omnivorous. The species is of local importance for subsistence fisheries and is regularly eaten.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Someren's barb?

The Someren's barb has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Large barbel of high-lying, fast-flowing mountain rivers; inferior mouth with fleshy lips and barbels.

Where does the Someren's barb live?

The Someren's barb lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. High-lying, fast-flowing rivers in the Rwenzori region of East Africa.

How big does the Someren's barb get?

The Someren's barb grows to a maximum of about 40 cm.

Is the Someren's barb dangerous to humans?

No, the Someren's barb is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Someren's barb edible?

Yes, the Someren's barb is commonly eaten.

More photos

Someren's barb (Labeobarbus somereni) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Gina Walsh, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Someren's barb (Labeobarbus somereni) — Cyprinidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Boulenger, George Albert, 1858-1937 (Public domain)
Someren's barb (Labeobarbus somereni) — Cyprinidae — 4
Kai Borckenhagen (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — NHMUK
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Someren's barb?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Someren's barb is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Someren's barb verified
Scientific name
Labeobarbus somereni
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
High-lying, fast-flowing rivers in the Rwenzori region of East Africa. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Varied; biofilm, invertebrates and plant material sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Large barbel of high-lying, fast-flowing mountain rivers; inferior mouth with fleshy lips and barbels. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
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. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Labeobarbus

More from the family Cyprinidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Someren's barb?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Someren's barb is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Someren's barb? Get the app