Pseudobarbus
Encyclopedia
Pseudobarbus is a ray-finned fish genus
in the family
Cyprinidae. The type species
is Burchell's Redfin
(P. burchelli). The scientific name is derived from the Ancient Greek
pseudes ("false") and the Latin word barbus ("beard", in reference to the barbel
s of barbs). This genus contains some (and might contain all) of the South African redfins. It was originally proposed as a subgenus
but has since been found worthy of recognition as a full genus.
This genus is restricted to southern Africa
; all of its species were formerly placed in Barbus
, the genus of typical barbels and their relatives. One taxon
was originally described as P. leonhardi – this, however, was an Europe
an fish for which the genus was erroneously proposed anew. It has since turned out to be nothing other than the barbel B. peloponnesius
.
Seven species are historically placed in Pseudobarbus, and one undescribed species is known:
Some other South Africa
"redfin" barb are presently placed in Barbus
, mainly due to a lack of taxonomic and systematic
study of that huge "wastebin genus". They form a clade
distinct from the traditional Pseudobarbus and are more plesiomorphic. Certainly, they do not belong in the typical barbel genus however, and as this is split up, the following species may well end up here:
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
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 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...
is 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 scientific name is derived from the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
pseudes ("false") and the Latin word barbus ("beard", in reference to the barbel
Barbel (anatomy)
A barbel on a fish is a slender, whiskerlike tactile organ near the mouth. Fish that have barbels include the catfish, the carp, the goatfish, sturgeon, the zebrafish and some species of shark...
s of barbs). This genus contains some (and might contain all) of the South African redfins. It was originally proposed as a subgenus
Subgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
but has since been found worthy of recognition as a full genus.
This genus is restricted to southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
; all of its species were formerly placed in Barbus
Barbus
Barbus is a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cyprinidae. The type species of Barbus is the Common Barbel, first described as Cyprinus barbus and now named Barbus barbus...
, the genus of typical barbels and their relatives. One taxon
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
was originally described as P. leonhardi – this, however, was an Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an fish for which the genus was erroneously proposed anew. It has since turned out to be nothing other than the barbel B. peloponnesius
Barbus peloponnesius
Barbus peloponnesius is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. The Western Balkan Barbel is sometimes included in the present species....
.
Species and systematics
Pseudobarbus was placed in the paraphyletic "subfamily" Barbinae by those that recognize that group. But if not included in the Cyprininae outright it might – like the other small African barbs – belong to an as of yet unnamed subfamily.Seven species are historically placed in Pseudobarbus, and one undescribed species is known:
- Pseudobarbus afer (W. K. H. PetersWilhelm PetersWilhelm Karl Hartwich Peters was a German naturalist and explorer.He was assistant to Johannes Peter Müller and later curator of the Berlin Zoological Museum. In September 1842 he travelled to Mozambique via Angola. He returned to Berlin with an enormous collection of natural history specimens...
, 1864) (Eastern Cape Redfin) - Pseudobarbus asper (BoulengerGeorge Albert BoulengerGeorge Albert Boulenger FRS was a Belgian-British zoologist who identified over 2000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles and amphibians.-Life:...
, 1911) (Smallscale Redfin) - Pseudobarbus burchelli (A. SmithAndrew Smith (zoologist)Sir Andrew Smith KCB was a Scottish surgeon, explorer, ethnologist and zoologist. He is considered the father of Zoology in South Africa having described many species across a wide range of groups in his major work, Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa.Smith was born in Hawick, Roxburghshire...
, 1841) (Burchell's Redfin, Tradouw Redfin, Tradou Redfin) - Pseudobarbus burgi (BoulengerGeorge Albert BoulengerGeorge Albert Boulenger FRS was a Belgian-British zoologist who identified over 2000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles and amphibians.-Life:...
, 1911) (Berg River Redfin, Berg Redfin) - Pseudobarbus phlegethon (BarnardKeppel Harcourt BarnardKeppel Harcourt Barnard , was a South African zoologist and museum director. He was the only son of Harcourt George Barnard M.A. , a solicitor from Lambeth, and Anne Elizabeth Porter of Royston....
, 1938) (Fiery Redfin) - Pseudobarbus quathlambae (BarnardKeppel Harcourt BarnardKeppel Harcourt Barnard , was a South African zoologist and museum director. He was the only son of Harcourt George Barnard M.A. , a solicitor from Lambeth, and Anne Elizabeth Porter of Royston....
, 1938) (Maluti Redfin, Maluti Minnow) - Pseudobarbus tenuis (BarnardKeppel Harcourt BarnardKeppel Harcourt Barnard , was a South African zoologist and museum director. He was the only son of Harcourt George Barnard M.A. , a solicitor from Lambeth, and Anne Elizabeth Porter of Royston....
, 1938) (Slender Redfin) - Pseudobarbus sp. 'Verlorenvlei' (formerly in P. burgi)
Some other 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...
"redfin" barb are presently placed in Barbus
Barbus
Barbus is a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cyprinidae. The type species of Barbus is the Common Barbel, first described as Cyprinus barbus and now named Barbus barbus...
, mainly due to a lack of taxonomic and systematic
Systematic
Systematic is an American hard rock band from Oakland, California. They were one of the first signings to Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich's record label, The Music Company, via Elektra Records. The band released two studio albums before disbanding in 2004....
study of that huge "wastebin genus". They form a clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
distinct from the traditional Pseudobarbus and are more plesiomorphic. Certainly, they do not belong in the typical barbel genus however, and as this is split up, the following species may well end up here:
- Barbus andrewi – Cape Whitefish, Berg-breede River Whitefish
- Barbus calidus – Clanwilliam Redfin
- Barbus erubescens – Twee River Redfin, Twee Redfin
- Barbus serra – Sawfin, Clanwilliam Sawfin
- Barbus trevelyani – Border Barb