Hyphen Barb

Diagnosis: With 2 distinct black lateral stripes along the body; lateral stripe begins clearly on the snout and runs through the eye and gill cover and down the body (Ref. 13337). The lateral line tubules are closely outlined in black, giving the line a tubular appearance (Ref. 13337). Anterior barbel about eye diameter and posterior barbel a little longer (Ref. 13337).Description: Lateral line scales 27-30; 12 circumpeduncular scales (Ref. 13337, 122753).Colouration: With 2 distinct black lateral stripes along the body (Ref. 13337).

Potamodromous. Migrating within streams, migratory in rivers, e.g. Saliminus, Moxostoma, Labeo. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 9; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 5 - 6

Frequency of occurence in Caprivi: occasionally in sandy streams, occasionally on rocky streams, occasionally in standing deep water, abundant in shallow swamps, and common in shallow flood plains (Ref. 037065).

Occurs in floodplains, pools and shallow streams with vegetation. Feeds on detritus, algae, seeds, small invertebrates (Ref. 7248) and aquatic insect larvae (Ref. 13337). Migrates upriver to breed after heavy rains (Ref. 13337).

aquarium: commercial

The hyphen barb (Enteromius bifrenatus) is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae.

It is found in Angola, Botswana, Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Its natural habitat is rivers. It is not considered a threatened species by the IUCN.