Labeo coubie Rüppell 1832

There are 141 species of fish recorded in the Senegal River, most of which are native; however, there are no endemic species of fish in the Senegal Basin. Among the larger native benthopelagic taxa are: the 170 centimetre (cm) North African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus), the 149 cm Electric Catfish (Malapterurus electricus), and the 92 cm African Carp (Labeo coubie).

Some of the larger native demersal fishes of the Senegal Basin are: the 204 cm Aba (Gymnarchus niloticus). the 200 cm Nile Perch (Lates niloticus), the 183 cm Sampa (Heterobranchus longifilis), and the 150 cm Cornish Jack (Mormyrops anguilloides).

Pelagic native fishes in the Senegal River include the 65 cm True Big-scale Tetra (Brycinus macrolepidotus) and the 16 cm Ansorge Fangtooth Pellonuline (Odaxothrissa ansorgii).

Diagnosis: dorsal profile straight to slightly arched; body dark and dull; rostral lobe poorly developed, its free margin smooth (Ref. 2940, 81282). Distal margin of dorsal fin straight or convex; inner surface of lips with 4-10 transverse folds or costae (Ref. 2940, 28714, 81282). Inferior mouth with well-developed lips forming a sucker-like ring enclosing the jaws; snout typically swollen, as long as or much longer than the postocular part of the head (Ref. 28714). Body not cylindriform, its depth 27-39% of SL (Ref. 28714) or 2.3-3.3 times in SL (Ref. 2940, 81282). Depth of caudal peduncle 0.7-1.3x its length; 26-46 (50-150mm) and 37-47 (150-250mm) gill rakers; scale formula 5.5-7.5/36-40/6.5-7.5; 4.5 scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin base; 16 (18) scales around caudal peduncle (Ref. 2940, 81282). 11-14 dorsal fin branched rays (Ref. 2940, 28714, 81282). Description: large species; mouth inferior with small posterior barbel at corner of mouth, anterior barbel visible in young, but disappearing with age; distal margin of dorsal fin straight or convex (Ref. 2940, 26190, 81282), some forms with strongly rounded dorsal fin were described as L. pseudocoubie; D:IV,12-15; A:III,5; P:17-19; V:9 (Ref. 2940, 81282). Eyes in superolateral position (Ref. 26190). Coloration: general appearance dark; back and sides greyish-blue to blackish-maux; belly light; fins blackish or slate-colored; scales on sides bluish-black with mauve or red centre; juveniles grey with scale rows separated by dark, undulate longitudinal lines; a large, round blotch on caudal peduncle (Ref. 2940, 81282).

Potamodromous. Migrating within streams, migratory in rivers, e.g. Saliminus, Moxostoma, Labeo. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 19; Analsoft rays: 8 - 11; Vertebrae: 31 - 33

Two forms of this species are different in the shape of the dorsal fin (Ref. 4967).

Inhabit rivers (Ref. 4967).

fisheries: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums

Labeo coubie, the African carp, is a cyprinid fish, widespread in Africa, where it occurs within the drainage basin of the Nile (Blue, White, Lake Albert) and in the Chad, Niger-Benue, Volta, Senegal and Gambia Rivers, as well as the Cross River and Cameroon coastal rivers. Furthermore, it is also known from East Africa and the middle reaches of the Congo. Records from the Zambezi drainage need confirmation.