Home · Cyprinidae · Marie's yellowfish
Marie's yellowfish (Labeobarbus mariae) — Cyprinidae

Marie's yellowfish

Labeobarbus mariae
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Marie's yellowfish (Labeobarbus mariae) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Marie's yellowfish is a large African barb or yellowfish (Cyprinidae) from fresh water of East Africa. The species grows to about 40 cm and has an elongate, silvery to yellow-brown body with large scales and barbels. As a powerful bottom-oriented fish it lives in flowing rivers and lakes and eats algae, water plants, insects, molluscs and small animals. It is a valued sport and food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Marie's yellowfish?

The Marie's yellowfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Marie's yellowfish live?

The Marie's yellowfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Marie's yellowfish get?

The Marie's yellowfish grows to a maximum of about 30 cm.

Is the Marie's yellowfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Marie's yellowfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Marie's yellowfish edible?

Yes, the Marie's yellowfish is commonly eaten.

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
Maries geelvis sourced
English name
Marie's yellowfish sourced
Scientific name
Labeobarbus mariae
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. 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 Labeobarbus

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 →