Luciobarbus guiraonis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Luciobarbus guiraonis |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Cyprinidae |
| Subfamily: | Barbinae |
| Genus: | Luciobarbus |
| Species: |
L. guiraonis
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| Binomial name | |
| Luciobarbus guiraonis (Steindachner, 1866)
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| Synonyms | |
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Barbus guiraonis Steindachner, 1866 (but see text) |
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The Luciobarbus guiraonis is a type of ray-finned fish. It belongs to the family called Cyprinidae, which includes many kinds of carp and minnows. This fish is often called a "barbel" because of the whisker-like feelers around its mouth.
This large barbel is found only in Spain, meaning it is endemic there. In Spain, people call it barbo mediterraneo, which means "Mediterranean Barbel" in English. However, this name can sometimes be confusing because another similar fish, Barbus meridionalis, is also known by that name.
You can find Luciobarbus guiraonis in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs on the Mediterranean side of Spain. It lives in the water systems from the Mijares River to the Serpis River, and also in the upper Guadiana River area.
Contents
Protecting the Mediterranean Barbel
The Luciobarbus guiraonis is currently listed as a Vulnerable species by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). This means its population is decreasing and it could become endangered if we don't protect it. Experts believe its numbers might have dropped by about one-third by 2020.
Why the Fish is in Danger
Several things are causing the number of these fish to go down:
- Water Pollution: Dirty water from human activities harms the fish and their habitat.
- Water Use for Farming: A lot of water is taken from rivers and lakes for agriculture. This leaves less water for the fish to live in.
- Dams: Building dams on rivers changes the natural flow of water. This can block the fish from moving to different areas or change their habitat too much. Some planned dams could really hurt the fish's populations.
- New Fish Species: Other types of fish that are not native to Spain have been introduced into these waters. These new fish can compete with the Luciobarbus guiraonis for food and space, or even eat them.
Laws to Help the Fish
To help protect this barbel, it is listed in Annex V of the European Union's Habitats Directive. This law allows countries to control how many of these fish can be taken from the wild. It is also listed as a Protected Species in Appendix III of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. This shows that many groups are working to keep this special fish safe.
See also
- Water supply and sanitation in Spain#Links to water resources
 | Emma Amos |
 | Edward Mitchell Bannister |
 | Larry D. Alexander |
 | Ernie Barnes |
