Appearance and lifestyle:
Clanwilliam yellowfish (Labeobarbus capensis) also known as the Berg-Breede yellowfish and the Cape yellowfish are golden-yellow freshwater fish. They can grow up to 1 meter long and they have thick lips that are suited for bottom feeding.
Habitat:
This species occurs only in the deep pools and slow-flowing regions of the Olifants River in the Western Cape. These fish migrate upstream to spawn over the gravel beds of the middle reaches.
Diet:
They feed on algae, crustaceans and small fish.
Threats:
They are threatened by the construction of dams, which obstruct migration routes and change the natural flood and temperature cycles in the river. Other threats include large-scale removal of river water, and alien fish, which feed on the eggs and young of the yellowfish.