View source for Biology:Italian barbel

{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{Speciesbox
| image =Cyprinidae - Barbus plebejus.JPG
| image_caption =
| status = LC 
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name = IUCN>{{cite iucn | author = Freyhof, J. |year= 2011 |title= ''Barbus plebejus'' |errata= 2020 |page= e.T2568A174777197 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T2568A174777197.en |access-date=3 January 2024}}</ref>
| taxon = Barbus plebejus
| display_parents =3
| authority = Bonaparte, 1839
| range_map = Areale Barbus Plebejus.png
}}

The '''Italian barbel''' ('''''Barbus plebejus''''') is a species of freshwater fish in the  family [[Biology:Cyprinidae|Cyprinidae]], nearly related to the [[Biology:Common barbel|common barbel]] ''Barbus barbus''. The name barbel derived from the Latin barba, meaning beard, a reference to the two pairs of barbels,  a longer pair pointing forwards and slightly down positioned, on the side of the mouth.

==Description==
''Barbus plebejus'' can reach a maximum length of {{cvt|70|cm}} in males and a maximum weight of {{convert|6|kg}}. Usually, it is much smaller. It has a long and slender body, with a mouth equipped with characteristic four barbels (hence the common and genus names). It has greenish back with black dots, sides finely dotted, whitish belly, paired fins tinged with grey and a slightly thorny dorsal ray. Lower lip has a median lobe.

==Distribution==
The species is found in Croatia, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland.

==Habitat==
Like the common barbel, these long-lived fishes have their natural [[Earth:Habitat|habitat]]s in running waters of [[Earth:River|river]]s and rarely freshwater [[Earth:Lake|lake]]s. They inhabit the water just above the bottom (benthopelagic), feeding on benthic invertebrates, small fish and algae. They also migrate within freshwater (potamodromous), for spawning purposes. It is not considered a [[Biology:Threatened species|threatened species]] by the IUCN.<ref name = IUCN/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Helfman, G., B. Collette i D. Facey: ''The diversity of fishes''. Blackwell Science, Malden, {{wipe|Massachusetts}}, United States, 1997.
* Moyle, P. i J. Cech.: ''Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology'', 4th ed., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey (United States): Prentice-Hall. Any 2000.
* Nelson, J.: ''Fishes of the World'', 3rd. Ed. {{wipe|New York City}} (United States): John Wiley and Sons. Any 1994.
* Wheeler, A.: ''The World Encyclopedia of Fishes'', 2nd ed., [[Place:London|London]]: Macdonald. Any 1985.
Mitochondrial phylogeny and taxonomic revision of Italian and Slovenian fluvio-lacustrine barbels, Barbus sp. (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae). (n.d.). https://bmczool.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40850-021-00073

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{FishBase|id=25854|genus=Barbus|species=plebejus}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1082788}}

[[Category:Barbus]]


{{Sourceattribution|Italian barbel}}