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Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Cypriniformes (Carps) > Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps) > Labeoninae
Etymology: Labeo: Latin, labeo = one who has large lips (Ref. 45335); altivelis: From the Latin altus meaning high and velum meaning veil, name refers to the dorsal fin (Ref. 26190). More on author: Peters.

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Tropical, preferred ?; 13°S - 22°S

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Africa: lower and middle reaches of the Zambezi River system, including the Shire and Lake Malawi. Also in Lake Mweru and the Luapula (upper Congo River basin)(Ref. 26190). Range thought to extend to some East Coast rivers (Rufiji system) (Ref. 1440).

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m 27.0 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 49.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5309); max. published weight: 3.6 kg (Ref. 7248); max. reported age: 9 years (Ref. 7248)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13

Prefers large rivers but is also found in large lakes and dams. Grazes on algae and `aufwuchs' from rocks (Ref. 7248). From October to December in Lake Moëro, the adults gather and migrate to the spawning grounds. They go up the Luapula River up to the foot of Johnston Falls where they undergo one massive spawning between January and March. This massive spawning of short duration is known as kapata in the Luapula-Moëro system and in the tributaries of the Luapula. This species is intensely fished and caviar is produce from eggs collected during migration from Lake Moëro to Luapula River (Ref. 26190).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Tshibwabwa, S.M., 1997. Systématique des espèces africaines du genre Labeo (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) dans les régions ichtyogéographiques de Basse-Guinée et du Congo. I. Presses Universitaires de Namur, Namur, Belgique. 302 p. (Ref. 26190)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes

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Internet sources

Labeo altivelis Peters, 1852