Italian Barbel

Tiber bar

The Tiber or Südbarbe (Barbus plebejus ) in Italian Barbo Padano is a barb species occurring in southern Europe.

Features

The Tiber bar can be up to 70 centimeters long with a maximum weight of six kilograms. It has 58-77 scales along the lateral line. Tiber barbel have a spindle-shaped body and a mouth with permanent four barbels on the upper lip. The pharyngeal teeth are arranged in three rows. From the color scheme is similar to the dog barbel ( Barbus meridionalis ). Tiber barbels are lighter and are often punctured.

Occurrence

The Tiber bar comes in the Adriatic basin of Tronto to Krka before. Widespread also it is in the basin of the Soca and the Isonzo in Slovenia, Croatia and in some waters of Switzerland. It was introduced in Central Italy rivers that empty into the Tyrrhenian Sea. She is very widespread, often in the Po and other northern Italian rivers

Way of life

The Tiber Barbe reached a relatively advanced age. It usually inhabits fast-flowing and oxygen-rich waters in the mountain regions, but also lives in lowland rivers. It also occurs in some lakes. It feeds on benthic living small animals, fish fry, young fish and algae. Spawning takes place in the months of April to July, with the animals prefer to spawn on gravel base.

Threat status

The Tiber bar is regionally threatened by overfishing. In the middle reaches of the Po their population is characterized by the proliferation of catfish ( Silurus glanis ) and river barbel (Barbus barbus ) declined.

Economic Importance

As a sport fish, it was introduced in numerous Italian waters.