Clipper Barb

Diagnosis: mouth subterminal; two pairs of short barbels; anterior pair not exceeding anterior margin of eye, posterior pair not reaching to anterior half of eye; lateral line complete and horizontal or slightly depressed below dorsal fin; scale formula 3.5/22-27/3.5; 2.5 scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin base; 12 scales around caudal peduncle; 8 branched dorsal fin rays; last simple dorsal-fin ray smooth on hind margin; no color pattern on sides; black spot on dorsal fin, but tip of fin colorless; maximum reported size 65 mm SL (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639).Description: medium-sized species; dorsal profile slightly convex; lines of cephalic pores well visible (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639). D:III,8; A:III,5; dorsal fin with slightly concave border, last simple ray flexible, not serrated, nearly as long as head (Ref. 81639). Coloration: ground color light, darker on back; lateral-line scales sometimes edged with black; in live specimens dorsal and caudal fins orange-red at base, other fins colorless; typical black spot on anterior dorsal-fin rays, above mid-height of fin, distal tip colorless (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 8

Affinities: belongs to ablabes group, distinguished from other West African Barbus by the dorsal fin spot. B. deserti (spot fully covering dorsal tip) (Ref. 2940). Maximum SL observed is 65 mm (Ref. 2940, 81282).

fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial

The clipper barb (Enteromius callipterus) or Congo barb is a freshwater and brackish tropical fish belonging to the minnow family (Cyprinidae). Its native habitat is from Côte d'Ivoire through the Chad Basin to Nigeria and Cameroon. It was originally described as Barbus callipterus by Boulenger in 1907.

The clipper barb grows to a maximum length of 3 in (8 cm) and a maximum weight of 0.18 oz (5.0 g). It has a slightly convex dorsal profile and short anterior barbels that do not extend beyond the eye. It has a light silverish-golden body, darker on the back. The dorsal and caudal fins have a red-orange base, all other fins are colorless. It has a black spot on the first few rays of the dorsal fin, the tip of those rays are colorless.

Clipper barbs natively live in a tropical environment and prefer freshwater an ideal temperature range of 66–77 °F (19–25 °C).

The clipper barb is of commercial interest in the aquarium industry.