Cheilobarbus

Cheilobarbus fishes are among the largest of the South African barb species and reach standard lengths greater than 15 cm (5.9 in). They have a relatively longer snout than related genera, with an elongated lacrimal bone. They have an inferior mouth which has large, firm lips and there are two pairs of barbels. Adults show a reddening on the crown and on a scale row above the pectoral fins during the spawning season. The dorsal fin is over or a little to the rear of the pelvic fins. The last unbranched dorsal fin ray is slightly or clearly serrated along its posterior margin, and this is followed by eight branched rays. There are three unbranched and five or six branched fin rays in the anal fin.^[5]

Cheilobarbus fishes are endemic to the Western Cape. The Cape whitefish is found in the Breede and Berg drainages,^[6] and the sawfin is endemic to the Olifants River system.^[7] These fishes prefer deeper parts of large rivers as adults, including impoundments.^[6][7] Cheilobarbus species reproduce in the summer and form large groups that spawn together on rocky bottoms.^[8][9]