For Anyone Interested in the Wildlife of the U.K.
Barbel
Scientific name: Barbus barbus
Size: Up to 90cm long and weight up to 10kg.
Distribution: Found throughout the UK
Months seen: All year round
Life Span: Up to 20 years
Habitat: Slow and fast flowing gravel or rock bottomed rivers
Food: Aquatic vegetation, snails, insects and small fish
Special features: Barbel are named after the two pairs of barbs, or beards which dangle down on either side of the mouth. They are used to locate food on the river bed. Barbel are long, streamlined fish, renowned amongst anglers for being powerful swimmers. They are usually a greenish-bronze colour with a silver belly, but they can be a dark brown.
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