Home · Cyprinidae · Fewscale barbel
Fewscale barbel (Barbus oligolepis) — Cyprinidae

Fewscale barbel

Barbus oligolepis
Family: Cyprinidae

The Fewscale barbel (Barbus oligolepis) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 35 cm.

Length
35 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Fewscale barbel is a barb (Cyprinidae) from rivers, streams and lakes of Anatolia in Turkey. The species grows to about 12 cm and has an elongate, silvery body with large scales and often barbels by the mouth. As a social schooling fish it searches for insect larvae, small invertebrates, algae and plant matter. It is locally a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Fewscale barbel?

The Fewscale barbel has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Fewscale barbel live?

The Fewscale barbel lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Fewscale barbel get?

The Fewscale barbel grows to a maximum of about 35 cm.

Is the Fewscale barbel dangerous to humans?

No, the Fewscale barbel is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Weinigschub-barbeel sourced
English name
Fewscale barbel sourced
Scientific name
Barbus oligolepis
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Marmara barbel sourced

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
35.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Te vangen met natuurlijk aas of kunstaas, afgestemd op de grootte en het leefgebied van de soort. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Barbus

More from the family Cyprinidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →