Overview
Comprehensive Description
Biology
Prefers clear, flowing waters of larger perennial rivers, frequenting pools below rocky rapids (Ref. 2801). Found also in quiet water with aquatic wed cover. Lives in shoals, usually in shallow water over sandy bottoms. Feeds on aquatic larvae and insects, shrimps and small crustaceans (Ref. 13337). Breeds in summer (Ref. 7248). Also caught with dip nets (Ref. 4967).
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Lévêque, C. and J. Daget 1984 Cyprinidae. p. 217-342. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ORSTOM, Paris and MRAC, Tervuren. Vol. 1. (Ref. 2801)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=2801&speccode=11272
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Distribution
Range Description
Opsaridium zambezense is known from Democratic Republic of Congo, south to Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Central Africa: It occurs in southern tributaries of the Congo River basin.
Eastern Africa: It is present in the Lower Shire River, Malawi.
Southern Africa: This species is found in the Okavango and Zambezi River system, south to the Pungwe and Buzi Rivers (Skelton 2001). Also from Zambian Congo. Although reported to be absent from the Kafue system, Tweddle et al. (2004) caught it in the Mwekera tributary.
Central Africa: It occurs in southern tributaries of the Congo River basin.
Eastern Africa: It is present in the Lower Shire River, Malawi.
Southern Africa: This species is found in the Okavango and Zambezi River system, south to the Pungwe and Buzi Rivers (Skelton 2001). Also from Zambian Congo. Although reported to be absent from the Kafue system, Tweddle et al. (2004) caught it in the Mwekera tributary.
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Africa: Upper Kasaï, Zambezi, Okavango, Pungwe, Limpopo, and Buzi River systems southwards to the Pongolo River. Absent in Kafue and Cunene Rivers; present in the southern tributaries of the Congo system (Ref. 7248).
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Lévêque, C. and J. Daget 1984 Cyprinidae. p. 217-342. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ORSTOM, Paris and MRAC, Tervuren. Vol. 1. (Ref. 2801)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=2801&speccode=11272
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Physical Description
Morphology
Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 11 - 13
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Bell-Cross, G. and J.L. Minshull 1988 The fishes of Zimbabwe. National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. 294 p. (Ref. 13337)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=13337&speccode=11874
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Size
Max. size
15.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 7248))
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Skelton, P.H. 1993 A complete guide to the freshwater fishes of southern Africa. Southern Book Publishers. 388 p. (Ref. 7248)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=7248&speccode=11874
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Diagnostic Description
With striking vertical bars, lateral line curving down towards the ventral surface of the body; dorsal fin rounded; barbel absent.
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Bell-Cross, G. and J.L. Minshull 1988 The fishes of Zimbabwe. National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. 294 p. (Ref. 13337)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=13337&speccode=11874
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
Habitat and Ecology
Systems
Opsaridium zambezense is a benthopelagic and predatory species. It prefers clear, flowing waters of larger perennial rivers, frequenting pools below rocky rapids (Lévêque and Daget 1984). It is also found in quiet water with aquatic cover. Opsaridium zambezense lives in shoals, usually in shallow water over sandy bottoms. It feeds on aquatic larvae and insects, shrimps and small crustaceans (Bell-Cross and Minshull 1988). Opsaridium zambezense breeds in the summer (Skelton 1993).
Systems
- Freshwater
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Environment
benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 6.5 - 7.0; dH range: 8 - 12
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Trophic Strategy
Prefers clear, flowing waters of larger perennial rivers, frequenting pools below rocky rapids. Found also in quiet water with aquatic wed cover. Lives in shoals, usually in shallow water over sandy bottoms. Frequency of occurence in Caprivi: occasionally in sandy streams, occasionally on rocky streams (Ref. 037065). Feeds on aquatic larvae and insects, shrimps and small crustaceans.
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Lévêque, C. and J. Daget 1984 Cyprinidae. p. 217-342. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ORSTOM, Paris and MRAC, Tervuren. Vol. 1. (Ref. 2801)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=2801&speccode=11272
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
LC
Least Concern
Red List Criteria
Version
3.1
Year Assessed
2010
Assessor/s
Bills, R., Kazembe, J., Marshall, B., Moelants, T., Tweddle, D. & Vreven, E.
Reviewer/s
Snoeks, J., Tweddle, D., Getahun, A., Lalèyè, P., Paugy, D., Zaiss, R., Fishar, M.R.A & Brooks, E.
Contributor/s
Justification
This species is widespread with no known major widespread threats. It is therefore assessed as Least Concern. It is also assessed regionally as Least Concern for central and southern Africa. In eastern Africa, it is only known from the lower Shire River and is assessed as Vulnerable.
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Trends
Population
Population
Population Trend
Generally common in suitable habitats. In Zimbabwe, however, this species has declined in some areas because of dam building (notably in Lake Kariba but other reservoirs as well) and also pollution and alien predators such as Micropterus spp. (Marshall and Gratwicke 2001). Its distribution on the central plateau of Zimbabwe is therefore rather fragmented but it is still abundant in suitable habitat.
Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats
Threats
Major Threats
In east Africa this species is threatened by subsistence fishing, and sedimentation of spawning beds. In southern Africa there are localised problems due to dam building, pollution, alien predators, but overall the species populations are not heavily threatened.
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Least Concern (LC)
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IUCN 2006 2006 IUCN red list of threatened species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded July 2006.
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=57073
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Management
Conservation Actions
Conservation Actions
The species has little protection. River health programmes and the control of alien fish stocking are needed. More research is needed into this species population numbers and range, biology and ecology, habitat status and threats, as well as monitoring and potential conservation measures.
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Importance
fisheries: minor commercial
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Skelton, P.H. 1993 A complete guide to the freshwater fishes of southern Africa. Southern Book Publishers. 388 p. (Ref. 7248)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=7248&speccode=11874
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Balon, E.K. 1974 Fishes of Lake Kariba, Africa. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. (Ref. 3126)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=3126&speccode=1399
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