Berg River Redfin
Encyclopedia
The Berg River Redfin or Berg Redfin is a ray-finned fish species
in the family
Cyprinidae. The Burchell's Redfin
(P. burchelli), the type species
of its genus Pseudobarbus
, is a very close relative. The Berg River Redfin is tetraploid.
It is endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa
, where it occurs in the upper Berg River
and its tributaries Boesmans
, Goedverwacht, Hugo, Krom, Leeu
and Wemmers Rivers. Similar fishes in the Verlorenvlei have turned out to belong to a distinct species, which is undescribed as of 2007. Formerly a population
of either species was also found in the Eerste River
.
It inhabits clear oligotrophic waters with low hardness. This species is considered Endangered by the IUCN as it has declined much in recent decades; at least in the Boesmans River its numbers are still dropping. Apart from overuse of the rivers' water, the main threats are the introduced Rainbow Trout
(Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Smallmouth Bass
(Micropterus dolomieu). In particular the latter simply eats up the entire stock of Berg River Redfins whenever it manages to settle a stretch of river. The higher reaches of the rivers are too cold for the perch to thrive; here, the trouts are the bigger problem. The impact of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus), another non-native species, has not yet been assessed, as it has not been present for long. No conservation
plan has been proposed for P. burgi yet.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Cyprinidae. The Burchell's Redfin
Burchell's Redfin
Burchell's Redfin , also known as Tradouw Redfin or Tradou Redfin, is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. P. burchelli is the type species of its genus Pseudobarbus, and like all of these is tetraploid. The Berg River Redfin Burchell's Redfin (Pseudobarbus burchelli), also known as...
(P. burchelli), the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of its genus Pseudobarbus
Pseudobarbus
Pseudobarbus is a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cyprinidae. The type species is Burchell's Redfin . The scientific name is derived from the Ancient Greek pseudes and the Latin word barbus . This genus contains some of the South African redfins...
, is a very close relative. The Berg River Redfin is tetraploid.
It is endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, where it occurs in the upper Berg River
Berg River
The Berg River is a river located just north of Cape Town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It is approximately 294 km long with a catchment area of 7,715 km² and outlets into the Atlantic Ocean. About 65% of the Berg River area is under agriculture...
and its tributaries Boesmans
Boesmans River
Boesmans River, originates north of Kirkwood, Eastern Cape, South Africa, and runs east past Alicedale, before it turns and twists south and east to Kenton on Sea, where it mouths into the Indian Ocean. at . Tributaries include: Bega River, iCamtarha, Ncazala River, Komga River, New Years River,...
, Goedverwacht, Hugo, Krom, Leeu
Leeu River
Leeu River, , The Leeu Taaiboschspruit Catchment is situated in the Greater Sasolburg area in the Free State, South Africa.- Also see :* List of rivers of South Africa* List of reservoirs and dams in South Africa...
and Wemmers Rivers. Similar fishes in the Verlorenvlei have turned out to belong to a distinct species, which is undescribed as of 2007. Formerly a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of either species was also found in the Eerste River
Eerste River
Eerste River, located in the Western Cape, South Africa, rises on Dwarsberg 60 km east of Cape Town at the head of Jonkershoek. The Eerste River catchment covers the eastern part of the Cape Flats lying to the west of the Hottentots Holland Mountains and south of the Tygerberg where the Kuils River...
.
It inhabits clear oligotrophic waters with low hardness. This species is considered Endangered by the IUCN as it has declined much in recent decades; at least in the Boesmans River its numbers are still dropping. Apart from overuse of the rivers' water, the main threats are the introduced Rainbow Trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
(Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass
The smallmouth bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus...
(Micropterus dolomieu). In particular the latter simply eats up the entire stock of Berg River Redfins whenever it manages to settle a stretch of river. The higher reaches of the rivers are too cold for the perch to thrive; here, the trouts are the bigger problem. The impact of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus), another non-native species, has not yet been assessed, as it has not been present for long. No conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
plan has been proposed for P. burgi yet.