Brycinus carolinae (Paugy & Lévêque, 1981)

Family:  Alestidae (African tetras)
Max. size:  10.4 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater,
Distribution:  Africa: only known from the Niandan River, an affluent of the upper Niger in Guinea (Ref. 81279).
Diagnosis:  Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 15-16. Diagnosis: parietal fontanella absent in adults; snout short, comprised over three times in head length; dorsal-fin origin at same level as, or scarcely behind, pelvic-fin insertions; head narrow; adults medium-sized; black lateral band expanding over entire body length; sexual dimorphism affecting anal-fin shape, females with straight anal fin and males with curved anal fin; 8 premaxillary teeth; 4.5 scales above lateral line; 24-26 lateral line scales; 12-13 anal fin branched rays; 20-21 gill rakers in lower part of first branchial arch (Ref. 2880, 81279). Description: anal fin with 3 branched and 12-13 unbranched rays; jaws equal; premaxilla with two tooth rows, each comprising 8 teeth (Ref. 2880, 81279). Coloration: body silvery, dark back, white belly; dark longitudinal band (2 scales width) over the whole body length; humeral spot; precaudal band extending unto part of caudal fin; fins pale yellow in live specimens; after preservation in formalin, the longitudinal band becomes darker in males than in females (Ref. 2880, 81279).
Biology:  Affinities: B. imberi, with red fins no black longitudinal stripe; B. nigricauda, with colored caudal fin margin.
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 01 March 2020 (B1ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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