Malawi country information

Common names: African carp, Nchila
Occurrence: native
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: live export: yes;
Comments: Also Ref. 1440, 5595, 26190.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html
National Fisheries Authority: http://isp.msu.edu/AfricanStudies/Plea/mfri.htm
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Ricardo Bertram, C.K., H.J.H. Borley and E. Trewavas, 1942
National Database:

Common names from other countries

African carp, 中眼野鲮, Labeo jihoafrické, ... more

Classification / Names Populärnamn | synonymer | Catalog of Fishes(Släkte, Arter) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

> Cypriniformes (Carps) > Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps) > Labeoninae
Etymology: Labeo: Latin, labeo = one who has large lips (Ref. 45335); mesops: From the Greek word mesos meaning middle or half and opsis meaning sight; name refers to the state of the type material which was only half of the skin (Ref. 26190).
More on author: Günther.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ekologi

; sötvatten bentopelagisk; flodvandrande (Ref. 51243). Tropical

Utbredning Länder | FAO områden | Ekosystem | Förekomster | Point map | Utplanteringar | Faunafri

Africa: present in Lake Malawi basin (Ref. 1878, 52161, 55909, 96560), Juba system (1440) and Ruvuma River (Ref. 1440, 97286). Status Tana River population is uncertain (Ref. 52331). Reports from the Lufira River, Upper Congo River basin (Ref. 1440, 26190), are misidentifications of Labeo rosae (Ref. 96560).

Length at first maturity / Size / Vikt / Age

Maturity: L_m 33.9 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 39.0 cm TL hane/ej könsbestämd; (Ref. 2801)

Short description Bestämningsnycklar | Morfologi | Morfometri

Taggstrålar i ryggfenan (totalt) : 3; Mjukstrålar i ryggfenan (totalt) : 10 - 12; Taggstrålar i analfenan: 3; Mjukstrålar i analfenan: 5; Ryggkotor: 34.

Found in shallow water over sandy bottoms (Ref. 5595, 52161). Is a mud-feeder (Ref. 52161), feeds from the biocover and sediment on the sand (Ref. 5595). Also caught using weirs and baskets; formerly very abundant in Malawi, but now rare except where rivers drain undisturbed soil; possible that silt prevents development of eggs (Ref. 4967). Indications that it may leave the lake and run up rivers to spawn (Ref. 52161).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduktion | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larver

Spawns in small, muddy wet season rivers leading to swampy dambos (Ref. 2781). Holds its spawn until the rivers flood.

Main reference Upload your references | referenser | Koordinator | Medarbetare

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. 130435)

Critically Endangered (CR) (A2ac+3cd); Date assessed: 23 May 2018

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)