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Barbel
Barbe
Scientific name: Barbus barbus
NativeFreshwater
Behavior
Lives near the bottom in fast-flowing, gravelly river reaches. A shoaling fish that feeds on bottom-dwelling invertebrates.
Features
Elongated, near-cylindrical body, downward-facing mouth with four barbels. Dorsal fin has a serrated hard ray. One of the largest European cyprinids, growing beyond 80 cm.
Distribution
Found in most river systems of central and eastern Europe. In Germany in the Danube, Rhine, Elbe, and other major rivers.