Barbus barbus is a species of freshwater fish in the Cyprinidae family of minnows and carps. It shares the common name "barbel" with its many relatives in the genus Barbus and is properly known as the Common Barbel.
B. barbus is native throughout Europe and China and has become established as an introduced species in Morocco and Italy.
The fish is ideally suited to fast flowing waters, adult size is up to 1.2 m (4 ft) in length and 12 kg (26 lb) in weight, although it is typically found smaller (50–100 cm length, weight 1–3 kg). It is slightly laterally compressed, lacks an adipose fin, has a dark brown or grey mottled appearance, the underside is light coloured, and the fins have a reddish tinge.
B. barbus is benthopelagic, meaning they are found at the bottom of rivers as well as in open water. They are typically found feeding in deeper areas of rivers with a rocky or gravel bottom. Feeding is on benthic organisms, including crustaceans, insect larvae and mollusks.
Males become mature after three to four years, females after five to eight years, spawning occurs after upriver migration during May, June and July and 8,000 to 12,000 eggs are produced per kilogram of bodyweight.
The barbel in the UK
B. barbus plays a minor role in commercial aquaculture, however they are a very popular sport fish. In the UK it reaches a size of up to 21 pounds, with anything of more than 10 pounds considered to be of specimen size. Famous barbel rivers include the
River Trent,
Hampshire Avon, the
Kennet, the
Great Ouse, and more recently the
River Wye,
Severn,
Wensum and the
Teme, where the barbel was not native but has thrived after its introduction.
Such is the popularity of the barbel that angling societies exist which specifically promote the pursuit and conservation of the species.
==References==
External links
Photos from Fishbase
B
Category:Barbs
Category:Fish of Europe
