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Yellow barb (Enteromius manicensis) — Cyprinidae

Yellow barb

Enteromius manicensis
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Yellow barb (Enteromius manicensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Southern Africa
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The yellow barb is a small African minnow from fresh water of southern Africa, including Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a slender, yellowish to silvery body with barbels. It schools in clear streams and rivers and feeds on insect larvae, small zooplankton and algae. The fish is harmless to humans and has limited commercial value. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Yellow barb?

The Yellow barb has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a plain pattern. Yellowish body with barbels; small schooling stream barbel

Where does the Yellow barb live?

The Yellow barb lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Southern Africa

How big does the Yellow barb get?

The Yellow barb grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Yellow barb dangerous to humans?

No, the Yellow 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 Yellow barb edible?

The Yellow barb is rarely eaten.

More photos

Yellow barb (Enteromius manicensis) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Rob Palmer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Yellow barb verified
Scientific name
Enteromius manicensis
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Yellow barb verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Southern Africa verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Insect larvae, zooplankton and algae inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Schooling stream barb; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Yellowish body with barbels; small schooling stream barbel sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
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 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 Enteromius

More from the family Cyprinidae

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