Largemouth yellowfish
Labeobarbus kimberleyensis, called in English Largemouth Yellow Fish or Vaal - Orange Largemouth yellow fish, in Afrikaans Grootbek - Geelvis, is a large barb species, found only in South Africa.
Systematics and Genetics
Labeobarbus kimberleyensis belongs to the carp fishing. For a long time L. kimberleyensis was classified in the genus Barbus of until they were later classified in the separate genus Labeobarbus. Labeobarbus kimberleyensis probably has a hexaploid chromosome complement. It has a similar haplotype of mitochondrial DNA as Labeobarbus aeneus, but differs morphologically. This is typical of species that have experienced a divergence or hybrid introgression in their recent evolutionary history, or morphs that were incorrectly described as different species. But the latter is unlikely in the case of these two species because they differ not only in their size. The molecular genetic similarities between the two species are so far unexplored.
Description
The fish are up to 120 inches long and 22 pounds in weight, which was documented by a trapped with the Angel copy from the Vaal Dam. A commercially caught Largemouth Yellow Fish weighed even 52 kg.
Distribution and habitat
Labeobarbus kimberleyensis is endemic in subtropical Oranje - Vaal River system and its tributaries such as the Riet River in Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa at home, where they are the largest native fish between 24 ° and 30 ° latitude south length. In South Africa, one finds the Largemouth Yellow Fish in the provinces of Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and Northern Cape. Adult specimens prefer flow- rich stretches of river, about two meters deep pools behind rapids, but also found in slow flowing water of the reservoirs before weirs and dams such as the Sterkfontein Dam a suitable habitat. A rich aquatic vegetation, entangled bank lots and surface covering aquatic plants are for the survival of their species of great importance.
Way of life
The Largemouth Yellow Fish is an Spitzenprädator and stands in its habitat at the top of the food chain. While still feeding juveniles of Labeobarbus kimberleyensis of crustaceans and aquatic insects, they are starting from a length of 30 centimeters predominantly piscivorous predators. In summer in the months of December to January, they spawn in oxygen-rich flow onto gravel beds. Large females can thereby store up to 60,000 fish eggs. Largemouth Yellow Fish are slow-growing, reaching the age of five until a length of 30 centimeters, in exceptional cases, they may be old to 12 years.
Benefit
Labeobarbus kimberleyensis is an edible fish fillets from the Largemouth Yellow Fish are exported from South Africa partly for the North American market. Overfishing can bring local stocks to the brink of extinction and also you suspected that the Largemouth Yellow Fish accumulates as Spitzenprädator greater amounts of pollutants into his flesh. Compared with other South African freshwater fish species of the stock of Labeobarbus kimberleyensis applies not currently threatened in the lower reaches of the Orange River as primarily. Due to the increasing degradation and pollution from sewage discharge of their habitats, this situation could change in the future. Since the Largemouth Yellow Fish in its ecosystem filling the role of top predators, it is believed that its population is little individual- rich. As a sport fish of Largemouth Yellow Fish is popular with anglers, with one widely practiced in South Africa, the catch and release. In the Richtersveld National Park Augrabie and apply for anglers was gentle Regulations when fishing for these fish.