New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

💧 Freshwater Least Concern 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Subtropical 🎣 Game Fish

Purple labeo

Labeo congoro Peters, 1852
Max Length
41.5 cm
Max Weight
7.0 kg
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
-
Depth
-
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
50.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
-

📖 Overview

Found in strong-flowing rocky stretches of larger perennial rivers . It grazes algae and `aufwuchs' from rocks and firm surfaces including the backs of hippos, leaving characteristic tracks . Migrates upstream in swollen rivers to breed . Can occur as either sail-fin or normal varieties .

Scientific Name
Labeo congoro
Authority
Peters, 1852
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
41.5 cm
Max Weight
7 kg
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
50.00/100
Migration
Potamodromous
Water Temp
22–26 °C
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 16; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 8. : fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Purple labeo is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Purple labeo is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Purple labeo is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous . Subtropical; 22°C - 26°C ; 11°S - 27°S

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater
Migration
Potamodromous

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01047 × L3.06 (TL)
Max TL
41.5cm
Max Weight
7,000g
Dorsal Rays
15
Anal Rays
8

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
22–26°C
Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2016

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
50.00/100
Moderate-High vulnerability
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Peters, 1852

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Mucise · Mutuba · Perslyf-moddervis · Purple Labeo · Purple Mudsucker · Red-spotted Mudsucker · Rooiskub-moddervis
🌍AFR Rooiskub-moddervis
🌍CES Labeo Nachové
🇫🇮Finnish Purppuralabeo
🇷🇺Russian Пурпурный Лабео
🇪🇸Spanish Labeo Morado

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Labeo rubropunctatus Gilchrist & Thompson 1913 Synonym
Labeo ulangensis Steindachner 1914 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 76 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Purple labeo ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.