Sickle barb explained

The sickle barb (Enteromius haasianus) is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Enteromius. it gets its common name from the sickle shaped anal fin of mature males, they are normally a translucent brown colour with a spot on the caudal peduncle but in breeding condition the males take on a rosy hue.^{[1] [2]} It is a common and widespread species of swamps and shallow waters, including floodplains, in central Africa from the Congo Basin to the Zambezi. It is harvested commercially for food and for the aquarium trade and in some areas, such as Katanga, pollution may be a threat but it is a common and widespread small fish and is not considered to be globally threatened.^[3]

Size

This species reaches a length of 3.2cm (01.3inches).

Etymology

The fish is named in honor malacologist Fritz Haas (1886-1969), who collected the type specimen.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Book: Vincent Carruthers . 2000 . The Wildlife of Southern Africa: A field guide to the animals and plants of the region . Struik . 1868724514 . 65.
2. Book: Paul Harvey Skelton . 2001. A Complete Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa . Struik . 1868726436 . 130.
3. 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.
4. Web site: Order CYPRINIFORMES: Family CYPRINIDAE: Subfamily SMILIOGASTRINAE . 7 October 2021 . Christopher Scharpf . Kenneth J. Lazara . amp . The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database . Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara . 22 September 2018.