Notes

It must be noted that P. capensis formerly belonged to the genus Barbus, but following the work of Yang et al. (2015), Pseudobarbus was expanded to include additional species resulting in the renaming of the Breede-Berg River whitefish to ‘Pseudobarbus’ capensis (Skelton 2016). These nomenclatural changes were made because the type specimen on which the name Barbus capensis was based was re-identified as the Cape Whitefish or Witvis, and not the Clanwilliam Yellowfish, as previously thought (Skelton 2016). The name ‘Pseudobarbus’ capensis (Smith, 1841) for the Berg-Breede whitefish is in tune with the generic alignment of Yang et al. (2015).

habitat_narrative

Freshwater (=Inland waters)

The habitat requirements of Berg-Breede River Whitefish is not well understood. What is known is that it prefers larger rivers and does well in impoundments (Impson 2001). Adults prefer deep pools of larger rivers, where rock or overhanging vegetation cover is present, whereas juveniles are common in riffles (Impson 2007). Adults are omnivorous, feeding on bottom dwelling invertebrates and algae. Juveniles feed on zooplankton and small aquatic invertebrates (Skelton 2001). Berg-Breede River Whitefish breed in late spring, when water temperatures exceed 20 °C and schools of adults migrate to deep (1 to 1.5 m) riffles and spawn (Impson 2007). Fecundity is high with a 2.5 kg captive female yielding about 100,000 eggs (Smith 1987). The species spawns successfully in impoundments, with spawning occurring over gravel and rocky beds in shallow water (Impson 2001). A genetic study based on mitochondrial DNA indicated little variation between Berg-Breede River Whitefish subpopulations from the Berg and Breede River systems (Impson and Bloomer 1998). Berg-Breede River Whitefish used to co-occur with redfins (Pseudobarbus spp.), Cape Kurper (Sandelia capensis) and Cape Galaxias (Galaxias zebratus) before predatory alien fishes dominated mainstream and large tributary habitats. Further research is still needed to inform its biology.