Visit drawing of Labeo mesops at FishBase (then hit browser's "Back" button to return) Labeo mesops
is widely distributed through central Africa, from the Lufira River of
the upper Congo system all the way to the Juba River system on the
Indian Ocean coast (FishBase).
FishBase reports that this minnow attains a total length of 39 cm
(15.4 inches); a slightly smaller maximum size (35 cm or 13.8 inches) is
reported from Lake Malawi (Jackson, 1961).
In decades past, L. mesops was abundant in L. Malawi.
Jackson (1961: 547) called it
"...one of the major food fishes in the
lake. While present in most places round the lake, it is most abundant
off sandy shores in relatively sheltered water where large numbers
are caught in seine- or gill-nets. In such places, e.g., off Kota Kota,
large shoals are sometimes seen a mile or more off the shore.
Shoals have also been seen off Chinteche and Bandawe."
However, the population status of L. mesops in L. Malawi has
declined drastically in recent years. According to the FishBase account,
this species is "[f]ound in shallow water over sandy bottoms.
Feeds from the biocover and sediment on the sand.... Formerly very
abundant in Malawi, but now rare except where rivers drain undisturbed
soil. Possible that silt prevents development of eggs."
Some detailed information on the growth and life history of L. mesops at
Monkey Bay was published in the "gray literature"
(Anon., 1964).
