Largemouth yellowfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Largemouth yellowfish |
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| Photo of the official South African Largemouth yellowfish open record of 22.2 Kg, that was caught in Vaaldam during an angling club competition. | |
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The largemouth yellowfish (Labeobarbus kimberleyensis) is a large freshwater fish found in southern Africa. It is also known as the Vaal-Orange largemouth yellowfish. This fish belongs to the family called Cyprinidae, which includes carps and minnows. It is a type of ray-finned fish, meaning its fins are supported by bony rays.
For a long time, this fish was grouped with other similar fish in a large group called Barbus. However, scientists now think it fits better with other yellowfish in the Labeobarbus group. This fish is likely "hexaploid," which means it has six sets of chromosomes, unlike humans who have two. The largemouth yellowfish looks different from the smallmouth yellowfish (L. aeneus), even though they share some genetic similarities. Scientists are still studying why their genes are so similar.
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Where Largemouth Yellowfish Live
The largemouth yellowfish lives in the Orange and Vaal Rivers. You can also find them in the bigger rivers that flow into these main rivers, like the Riet River. These fish are found in several countries in southern Africa, including Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. In South Africa, they live in the Eastern Cape Province, Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North-West Province, and Northern Cape Province.
Habitat and Diet
Largemouth yellowfish usually live in deep parts of large rivers, often deeper than 2 metres (about 6.5 feet). They also like slow-moving water near weirs (small dams) and larger dams, such as the Sterkfontein Dam. They need lots of water weeds, plants hanging over the water, and other plant cover to stay healthy.
These fish are predators. Young yellowfish eat large and small invertebrates, which are creatures without backbones, like insects. Adult largemouth yellowfish mostly eat other fish.
Reproduction and Growth
Largemouth yellowfish lay their eggs in fast-flowing parts of rivers called "riffles." This happens during the summer, usually around December or January. A large female fish can lay more than 60,000 eggs at one time!
These fish grow slowly and can live for a long time. It takes them about five years to reach a total length of 30 cm (12 in) (about 12 inches).
Protecting the Largemouth Yellowfish
Compared to some other fish, the largemouth yellowfish is still doing fairly well. It is not considered an endangered species. However, it is listed as Near Threatened by the ICZN. This means that if their habitats continue to get worse, their numbers might drop a lot.
Many of the places where they live are facing problems. For example, building dams can block fish from reaching their spawning sites. The Vaal River sometimes has poor water quality, especially when it's not raining much. This can harm the fish.
Since the largemouth yellowfish is an "apex predator" (meaning it's at the top of the food chain), there aren't naturally huge numbers of them. They are popular with anglers (people who fish with a rod and line). It's a good idea for anglers to catch and release these fish. This helps keep their numbers healthy. Also, because they are apex predators, they can collect toxins from the environment, so it might not be safe to eat them.
Conservation Efforts
The largemouth yellowfish can be found in protected areas like the Augrabies Falls National Park and Richtersveld National Park. Anglers are learning about this important fish and are encouraged to release them after catching. In the Free State, catch and release is even required by law.
Scientists have also successfully moved these fish to dams within their natural range. These dams have shallow areas nearby where the fish can lay their eggs. These efforts help to make sure the largemouth yellowfish continues to thrive.
