Threespot barb (Enteromius trimaculatus) is a species of cyprinid fish in the large genus Enteromius. It has a wide distribution in sub-Saharan Africa from the Congo Basin east to the Indian Ocean coast of Tanzania and south to KwaZulu Natal in South Africa.[3] It occurs in shallow water around river inflows or near swampy areas. It is a habitat generalist and also hardy, but it prefers vegetated areas. It feeds on insects and other small animals. It is often caught for use as bait by anglers fishing for tigerfish. It breeds during the summer rainy season when shoals of fertile adults migrate upstream when the rivers are in spate following rain. A single females may produce as many as 8,000 eggs.[4]

Threespot barb
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
Subfamily: Barbinae
Genus: Enteromius
Species:
E. trimaculatus
Binomial name
Enteromius trimaculatus
Synonyms[2]
  • Barbus trimaculatus Peters, 1852
  • Barbus kurumani Castelnau, 1861
  • Barbus breijeri Weber, 1897
  • Barbus katangae Boulenger, 1900
  • Barbus decipiens Boulenger, 1907

References edit

  1. ^ Bills, R.; Cambray, J.; Engelbrecht, J.; Kazembe, J.; Marshall, B.; Moelants, T.; Vreven, E.; Chakona, A.; Weyl, O. & Tweddle, D. (2017). "Enteromius trimaculatus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017. IUCN: e.T182167A100160162. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T182167A100160162.en. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Synonyms of Enteromius trimaculatus (Peters, 1852)". Fishbase. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  3. ^ Bills, R.; Cambray, J.; Engelbrecht, J.; Kazembe, J.; Marshall, B.; Moelants, T. & Vreven, E. (2010). "Barbus trimaculatus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: 2010: e.T182167A7821621. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T182167A7821621.en.
  4. ^ R. Froese; D. Pauly, eds. (2017). "Enteromius trimaculatus (Peters, 1852) Threespot barb". Fishbase. Retrieved 9 September 2017.