Someren's barb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Someren's barb |
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Someren's barb, also known as Labeobarbus somereni, is a type of fish that has fins supported by bony rays. It belongs to the carp family, called Cyprinidae. You can find this fish in rivers across several African countries. These include Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. The fish is not considered endangered by the IUCN, which is a group that checks on wildlife. In Rwanda, people have different names for it. These names include ikinanga, inkwenwe, ifurwe, and urwozi.
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About Someren's Barb
Someren's barb is a freshwater fish. It lives in rivers, which are its natural home. This fish is known to eat both plants and small animals. However, it mostly eats plants. Its diet mainly includes aquatic plants and stringy algae.
Discovery and Name
This fish was first officially described in 1911. A scientist named George Albert Boulenger gave it its scientific name. The very first fish specimen used for this description is called a holotype. This specific fish was caught by Victor Van Someren. It was found in the Sebwe River in Uganda. This river is on Mount Ruwenzori, high up in the mountains. The original fish specimen is now kept at the Natural History Museum, London.
Changing Names
When it was first discovered, Someren's barb was placed in a group of fish called Barbus. But later, scientists decided it fit better in a different group. Now, it is known as a Labeobarbus species. Scientists are still studying this fish. They think it might be able to breed with another type of fish called L. ruwenzorii. This would create a hybrid fish. There is also a chance that L. somereni is actually the same species as L. mirabilis.
Where Someren's Barb Lives
Someren's barb lives in many rivers in East Africa. In Tanzania, it has been found in the upper parts of rivers. These include rivers that flow into Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, the Kagera River, and the Malagarasi River.
Rivers in Rwanda
In Rwanda, this fish has been seen in the Ruzizi River area. It also lives in the upper and middle parts of the Akagera River. These areas are on both sides of the Rusumo Falls.
Conservation Status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) keeps track of how many animals are left in the wild. They have listed L. somereni as a "least-concern species". This means they are not worried about it becoming extinct soon. The IUCN says the fish is "relatively widespread". This means it can be found in many places. However, some groups of these fish might be at risk. This could be due to local problems like more farming near their rivers.
