Opsaridium peringueyi (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1913)
Southern barred minnow

Family:  Danionidae (Danios), subfamily: Chedrinae
Max. size:  9 cm SL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 6 years
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: Save, Limpopo, Incomati, Umbeluzi and Phongola River systems (Ref. 26673). Generally confined to zones below 1200 m altitude along the lower escarpment and Lowveld of the Northern Province and Mpululanga, Swaziland and Kwazulu/Natal (Ref. 26673). A relict population in Lephalala River, Limpopo system, in the Waterberg, Northern Province (Ref. 26673).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 14-16. Description: Body spindle-shaped and streamlined (Ref. 52193). Head pointed; eyes large; mouth large; lower jaw extending to below orbit (Ref. 52193). Mature males with tubercles on lower jaw, paired fins and on scales behind the pelvic fins (Ref. 52193). Dorsal fin with 2-3 unbranched and 8-9 branched rays; anal fin with 3 unbranched and 11-13 branched rays; dorsal-fin origin behind pelvic fins; anal fin large, elongated in front in males (Ref. 26673, 52193). Scales in lateral line 40-44, usually 14 scales around caudal peduncle; lateral line dips to lower half of body (Ref. 52193).

Colouration: Silvery with 7-9 blue-black bars along sides; black hind edge and corner to dorsal fin (Ref. 52193). Males become flushed with orange-red on head, body and fins in breeding dress (Ref. 52193).

Biology:  Inhabits clear, flowing water in rapids or instream pools of rivers (Ref. 26673); frequenting pools below rapids or water flows over sand or gravel (Ref. 52193). It feeds primarily on benthic macroinvertebrates, mainly chironomid and simuliid larvae, and adult insects taken from the surface (Ref. 26673)..Gonadosomatic index indicates that the species is a partial spawner which breeds over an extended period during the spring and summer months (Ref. 26673), spawning several times during the season (Ref. 52193)..
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 December 2016 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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