Moggel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moggel |
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| Painted by Johannes Schumacher (1779) | |
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The Moggel (scientific name: Labeo umbratus) is a type of freshwater fish. It lives in Africa and belongs to the Labeo group of fish. You can find Moggel fish mainly in the rivers and waters connected to the Orange River system.
This fish looks a lot like another fish called L. capensis. It has a similar color and clear barbels near its mouth. Barbels are like whiskers that help fish feel and taste. The Moggel can live in water that is colder than 10°C (50°F). It often lives in still water, like muddy dams or big lakes. Young Moggel fish eat small insects and other tiny creatures. Older Moggel fish eat detritus (dead bits of plants and animals) and mud. This fish is also a good source of food for people. It can even be helpful in special fish farms that clean wastewater.
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How Big Do Moggel Fish Get?
Moggel fish can grow to be about 500 to 600 millimeters long. That's about 20 to 24 inches. They can weigh up to 2.9 kilograms, which is about 6.4 pounds.
Where Do Moggel Fish Live?
Moggel fish are found in Africa. They live in the rivers and streams that flow into the Orange River. You can also find them in the southern parts of the Cape region. Sometimes, people who fish have moved Moggel fish to other rivers, like the Olifants River in the Limpopo system. This means they are now found in new places too.
Moggel Behavior
Moggel fish usually live in calm waters. This includes shallow dams and muddy areas in large lakes. Young Moggel fish eat small invertebrates, which are tiny creatures without backbones. Adult Moggel fish mostly eat detritus and soft mud from the bottom of the water.
Moggel Reproduction
Moggel fish breed during the summer after it rains a lot. They swim upstream to special places to lay their eggs. These places are usually grassy riverbanks that are flooded, with some shallow rocky parts. A female Moggel can lay around 250,000 small, sticky eggs. These eggs stick to grass and rocks. The eggs hatch into tiny larvae in about 40 hours. The new baby fish then swim to the surface and are carried by the water current to deeper areas.
How People Use Moggel Fish
The Moggel fish is an important food source because it is very nutritious. It is also suggested for use in aquaculture, which is like farming fish. In these special farms, Moggel fish can be raised with other water creatures to help clean wastewater.
Sometimes, people fishing for other types of fish catch Moggel by accident. Moggel fish are known for putting up a strong fight when caught! It's hard to try and catch a Moggel on purpose, so catching one is often a surprise. Moggel fish are important for both large fishing businesses and for local people who fish for food. They are also used in scientific research.
