Cheilobarbus
{{Short description|Genus of fishes}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Barbus andrewi.jpg
| image_caption = Cape whitefish (Cheilobarbus capensis) at the Two Oceans Aquarium
| taxon = Cheilobarbus
| authority = A. Smith, 1841{{Cof family|family=Smiliogastrinae|access-date=6 January 2025}}
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = 2 species, see text
| type_species = Barbus (Cheilobarbus) capensis
| type_species_authority = A. Smith, 1841
}}
Cheilobarbus, commonly known as sawfins, is a small genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cyprinidae, the family which includes the carps, barbs and related fishes. The fishes in this genus are endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa.
Taxonomy
Cheilobarbus was first proposed as a taxon, a monotypic subgenus of the genus Barbus, by the Scottish military surgeon and zoologist Andrew Smith in 1841 when he described Barbus (Cheilobarbus) capensis from the Olifants River on the western coast of South Africa.{{Cof genus|genus=Cheilobarbus|access-date=6 January 2024}} This genus is included in the subfamily Smiliogastrinae within the family Cyprinidae.{{cite web |url=https://www.calacademy.org/scientists/catalog-of-fishes-classification |title=Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes Classification |access-date=5 January 2025 |publisher=California Academy of Sciences}}
Etymology
Cheilobarbus combines cheilos, meaning "lip", with the genus name Barbus, Smith described B. capensis as having "full and firm" lips.{{cite web |url=https://etyfish.org/smiliogastrinae/ |title=amily CYPRINIDAE: Subfamily SMILIOGASTRINAE Bleeker 1863 (Small Barbs) |date=27 December 2024 |access-date=6 January 2025 |author=Christopher Scharpf |work=The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database |publisher=Christopher Scharpf}}
Species
Cheilobarbus contains the following species:
- Cheilobarbus capensis (A. Smith, 1841) (Cape whitefish)
- Cheilobarbus serra (W. K. H. Peters, 1864) (Sawfin)
Both species are tetraploid, like Pseudobarbus redfins, from which they were separated.{{cite journal|author=Skelton, Paul H.|author2= Swartz, Ernst R. |author3= Vreven, Emmanuel J.|year= 2018|title= The identity of Barbus capensis Smith, 1841 and the generic status of southern African tetraploid cyprinids (Teleostei, Cyprinidae)|journal= European Journal of Taxonomy |volume=410|pages= 1–29 |doi=10.5281/zenodo.5687609}}
Characteristics
Cheilobarbus fishes are among the largest of the South African barb species and reach standard lengths greater than {{cvt|15|cm}}. They have a relatively longer snout than related genera with an elongated lacrimal bone. They have an inferior mouth which has large, firm lips and there are two pairs of barbels Adults show a reddening on the crown and on a scale row above the pectoral fins during the spawning season. The dorsal fin is over or a little to the rear of the pelvic fins. The last unbranched dorsal fin ray is slightly or clearly serratde along its posterior margin, and this is followed by eight branched rays. There are three unbranched and five or six branched fin rays in the anal fin.
Distribution and habitat
Cheilobarbus fishes are endmeic to the Western Cape, the Cape whitefish is found in the Breede and Berg drainages{{cite iucn |author=Impson, D. |author2=Van der Walt, R. |name-list-style=& |author3=Jordaan, M. |year=2017 |title=Pseudobarbus serra |page=e.T2569A100148283 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T2569A100148283.en |access-date=6 January 2025}} and the sawfin is endmeic to the Olifants River system.{{cite iucn |author=Impson, D. |author2=Van der Walt, R. |name-list-style=& |author3=Jordaan, M. |year=2017 |title=Pseudobarbus capensis |page=e.T2560A100114381 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T2560A100114381.en |access-date=6 January 2025}} These fishes prefer deeper parts of large rivers as adults, including impoundments. Cheilobarbus species reproduce in the summer and form large groups that spawn together on rocky bottoms.{{FishBase|Cheilobarbus|capensise|month=October|year=2024}}{{FishBase|Cheilobarbus|serra|month=October|year=2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q56298664}}
{{wikispecies}}
Category:Freshwater fish of South Africa