Burchell's redfin | |
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Burchell's redfin from the Breede catchment | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cypriniformes |
Family: | Cyprinidae |
Subfamily: | Barbinae |
Genus: | Pseudobarbus |
Species: | P. burchelli |
Binomial name | |
Pseudobarbus burchelli (A. Smith, 1841) | |
Synonyms | |
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Burchell's redfin (Pseudobarbus burchelli), also known as the Tradouw redfin, Tradou redfin or Breede redfin, is an African freshwater fish species in the family Cyprinidae. P. burchelli is the type species of its genus Pseudobarbus , and like all of these is tetraploid. The Berg River redfin (P. burgi) is a very close relative. [2]
It is endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa, where it occurs in the Moeras and Tradouw Rivers. [3] Whether the similar fishes from the Breede River and Heuningnes River are also P. burchelli is undetermined. [4]
Two populations are known with certainty, one in the Moeras River at Barrydale and one at the Tradouw River at Tradouws Pass. During summer, low water levels cut off gene flow between these two. The species inhabits deeper sections of the rivers' somewhat peaty water. Other fish are rare, and in Burchell's redfin's range these seem to consist of the introduced bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and Banded Tilapia (Tilapia sparrmanii) only. [4]
The introduced smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is expanding in the region and apparently destroys P. burchelli stocks as it does so. Human interference with the river's flow around Barrydale as well as water pollution have reached dangerous proportions. Consequently, Burchell's redfin is considered to be in serious danger of going extinct within a few years. It is assessed to be critically endangered by the IUCN; no conservation plan has been proposed for the species yet. [4]
The Olifants River is a river in the northwestern area of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The upper and main catchment area of the Olifants river is around Ceres and the Cederberg mountains. The Clanwilliam and Bulshoek dams are located on the river and provide water for the towns and farms along the watercourse. The river is approximately 285 km long with a catchment area of 46,220 km2 and flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Papendorp, 250 km north of Cape Town.
Pseudobarbus is a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cyprinidae. The type species is Burchell's redfin. The scientific name is derived from the Ancient Greek pseudes ("false") and the Latin word barbus. This genus contains some of the South African redfins. It was originally proposed as a subgenus, but has since been found worthy of recognition as a full genus.
The Cape whitefish or Berg-breede River whitefish is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It is placed with the South African redfins in Pseudobarbus. It is tetraploid. Its closest living relative was at one time considered the sawfin.
The Clanwilliam redfin, is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It is placed with the South African redfins in Pseudobarbus. It is tetraploid. Its closest living relative is probably the Twee River redfin.
The Clanwilliam yellowfish is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It has long been placed in Barbus, the "wastebin genus" for barbs, by default; however, the species is increasingly being restored to related yellowfish genus Labeobarbus which seems a much more appropriate placement. It is hexaploid like the other yellowfish, among which it is more closely related to the smallscale yellowfish than to the largescale yellowfish.
The Twee River redfin or simply Twee redfin is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It is placed with the South African redfins in Pseudobarbus. It is tetraploid. Its closest living relative is probably the Clanwilliam redfin.
The largemouth yellowfish or Vaal-Orange largemouth yellowfish is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. This large freshwater barb is found in southern Africa.
The sawfin, also known as Clanwilliam sawfin, is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It is placed with the South African redfins in Pseudobarbus. It is tetraploid. Its closest living relative is probably the Cape whitefish.
The Eastern Cape redfin is an African freshwater fish species in the family Cyprinidae, this appears to be a species complex rather than a single species.
The smallscale redfin is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae which is endemic to South Africa. It is threatened by habitat destruction and the impact of invasive species.
The Berg River redfin or Berg redfin is an African freshwater fish species in the family Cyprinidae. The Burchell's redfin, the type species of its genus Pseudobarbus, is a very close relative. The Berg River redfin is tetraploid.
The fiery redfin is an African freshwater fish species in the family Cyprinidae.
The Maluti redfin is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It is colloquially called the Maluti minnow, but it is not a true minnow.
The slender redfin is an African freshwater fish species in the family Cyprinidae.
Burchell's sandgrouse is a species of bird in the family Pteroclidae. It is found in arid and semi-arid regions of southern Africa. The name of this bird commemorates the English naturalist William John Burchell.
The freshwater mullet is a species of fish in the family Mugilidae. It is endemic to South Africa.
The border barb is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It is placed with the South African redfins in Pseudobarbus. Like Pseudobarbus. It is tetraploid.
Verlorevlei River is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Lying on the Sandveld of the West Coast, the river runs past Eendekuil, Het Kruis, and Redelinghuys. The river mouth is located at Elands Bay. Its tributaries include the Hol River, Kruismans River and the Krom Antonies River. It falls within the Drainage system G and the Management Area.
The Verlorenvlei redfin is a species of barb endemic to the Verlorenvlei River in South Africa.