Redeye barb

The redeye barb or Beira barb (Enteromius radiatus), is a widespread African species of freshwater cyprinid fish which is found from Uganda south to the Limpopo River and Incomati River systems in South Africa.

[1] The redeye barb lives and feeds on the bottom as well as in the middle of the water column and at the surface.

[1] There were previously three recognised subspecies but one of these has now been recognised as a separate species Enteromius profundus and the other two are now considered to be morphs of a single monotypic but polymorphic species[2] The redeye barb is a small barb which has salmon or orange-tinted fins, edged with black and a conspicuous red upper half to the eye.

[3] It is countershaded with specimens from Lake Malawi having the dorsal surface coloured olive contrasting with the belly silvery white belly, these are separated by a dark lateral stripe which extends from the caudal fin to the snout in the majority of specimens, although in some this may be rather indistinct.

[4] The head is covered in lines of sensory pits which are apparent when a specimen is examined using a handlens.