Labeo victorianus Boulenger, 1901
Ningu
Labeo victorianus
photo by KMFRI

Family:  Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Labeoninae
Max. size:  41 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 0 - 20 m, potamodromous
Distribution:  Africa: endemic to the Lake Victoria drainage (Ref. 52331). Present in Lake Victoria and its affluent rivers, Victoria Nile, Lake Kyoga (Ref. 1440, 4903, 34290) and in the Akagera system in Rwanda (Ref. 46152) and Burundi (Ref. 40373).
Diagnosis:  Lateral line running along middle of the flank and the caudal peduncle. Flap of skin in front of upper lip. Jaws with horny cutting ridges. Barbels hidden. Olivaceous dorsally, light or creamy ventrally. Dorsal, anal and pelvic fins often orange-tipped (Ref. 34290).
Biology:  Anadromous species; ascending both large rivers and streams during floods and spawning in floodwater pools or inundated grasses at margins of rivers (Ref. 105018). Upstream migration at beginning of rains (Ref. 36900) in fairly compact shoals (Ref. 52083). Permanent river populations exist (Ref. 52083). Lake Victoria: in shallow, inshore waters and influent rivers (Ref. 34291). Lake Kyoga: in open waters away from water-lily zone (Ref. 4903). Specialized feeder on epilithic and epiphytic algae (Ref. 12526). Also feeds on rotifers growing on the body of other fishes (Ref. 34291). Caught with weirs and in baskets (Ref. 4967). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 April 2023 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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