Straightfin barb
📖 Overview
Hardy, prefers quiet, well-vegetated waters in lakes, swamps, and marshes or marginal areas of larger rivers and slow-flowing streams . In shallow, inshore areas of Lake Victoria especially where bottom is sandy . Bottom feeder , it feeds on a wide variety of small organisms including insects, small snails and crustaceans, algae, diatoms, and detritus . Eaten by large predators like the sharptooth catfish, tigerfish, largemouth breams (Serranochromis species) and birds . Spawns amongst vegetation during summer , in river and streams during rainy season in Lake Victoria basin .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 8; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10. Diagnosis: Last unbranched ray of dorsal fin thorny, long and with posterior denticulation; barbels not well developed, anterior barbel very short, just reaching the posterior side of the maxilla, posterior barbel just reaching the middle of the eye . Dorsal side brown-silver coloured, ventral side silver, with a darker band on the flanks; fins not coloured .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Straightfin barb is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.8 - 7.8; dH range: 5 - 25. Tropical; 19°C - 28°C ; 10°S - 32°S East and Central Africa, extending westwards into Angola and reaching the southern-most limits of its distribution in Vungu, KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
a wide variety of small organisms including insects, small snails and crustaceans, algae, diatoms, a
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Straightfin barb is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 17.4 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 649 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Straightfin barb has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Straightfin Barb |
| 🌍AFR | Lynvin of Moeras-ghieliemientjie · Lynvin-ghieliemientjie |
| 🇩🇪German | Sumpfbarbe · Taitabarbe |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Болотный барбус |
🦠 Common Diseases
The following diseases are known to affect Straightfin barb.
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 590 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Straightfin barb ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.