Clanwilliam yellowfish
species of fish
The Clanwilliam yellowfish (Labeobarbus seeberi) 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 (L. polylepis) than to the largescale yellowfish (L. marequensis).
As its relatives, this is a large species. They are silvery with blotchy vertical barring on the sides when young, and become light brown all over when adult. Males turn golden-yellow in the breeding season, and the common name refers to this.
Distribution and ecology
It is only found in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, where it is found in tributaries of the Olifants River, namely the Doring River, and the Biedou, Boskloof, Driehoeks, Groot, Jan Dissels, Kobee, Noordhoeks, Ratels, Rondegat, Thee and lower Twee Rivers in the Cederberg Mountains. It is not known whether it still occurs in the Olifants River itself in any numbers, and at least above Clanwilliam Dam and below Olifants Gorge it has apparently gone extinct.
The Clanwilliam yellowfish is found in large and small rivers, but do not like slowly moving water. Young Clanwilliam yellowfish (below 4 cm/1.6 in long) are found in backwaters and shallow riffles.
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