Odaxothrissa losera Boulenger, 1899
Losera fangtooth pellonuline
Odaxothrissa losera
photo by Katemo Manda, B.

Family:  Dorosomatidae (Gizzard shads and sardinellas)
Max. size:  14.35 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: widely distributed in the lower and middle Congo River basin (Ref. 28136, 54749), including Sangha River and Ubangui River (Ref. 188), but also in Lualaba River (Ref. 188) and Upper Lualaba River (Ref. 45434). Perhaps also in rivers of Angola (Ref. 188).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-18; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 19-24. Diagnosis: Body slender or moderate, its depth about 22-29% of standard length; 10-14 pre-pelvic and 7-10 post-pelvic scutes, no pre-pectoral scutes, first scute beginning slightly before or behind base of last pectoral fin ray and identical as following scutes without ascending arms; lower jaw strongly projecting, with strong canine teeth at symphysis; pre-maxilla with one large backward-pointing canine tooth on each side, about halfway along normal pre-maxillary series, rarely 1-2 smaller ones beside or a little behind it; lower gill rakers 18-29, shorter than corresponding gill filaments and the anterior ones reduced to stumps in large adults; anal fin with 19-24 rays; silver stripe along flank (Ref. 188, 54749). It resembles Pellonula vorax, which lacks canine teeth in the upper jaw and has one or more pre-pectoral scutes (Ref. 188). Description: Body depth equal to or a little less than head length, 3,5 to 4,25 times in total length (Ref. 1878, 2263). Caudal peduncle a little longer than deep (Ref. 1878). Upper profile of head almost straight and horizontal; snout rounded, 1/3 of head length, about equal to eye diameter; eye, whose eyelid is sufficiently developed, is one third of head length and exceeds the interorbital width by a quarter (Ref. 1878). Maxilla is three times as long as it is wide and extending to below centre of eye (Ref. 1877, 1878). Gillrakers much shorter than gill filaments, 31-45 total gill rakers, 18-29 on lower part of anterior arch (Ref. 188, 1878, 54749). Dorsal fin with 15-18 rays, originating immediately behind vertical of base of pelvic fins, at equal distance from end of snout and from caudal; anal fin with 19-24 rays; pectoral fin with 12-16 rays, 2/3 of head length, not reaching pelvic fin; pelvic fin with 8 rays; caudal fin deeply forked, with pointed lobes (Ref. 1878, 54749). Scales cycloid; 39-50 scales in longitudinal series; 14 in transversal series (Ref. 1877, 2263, 54749). Ventral keel with 10-14 pre-pelvic and 7-10 post-pelvic scutes, first scute identical as following scutes without ascending arms, beginning slightly before or behind base of last pectoral fin ray (Ref. 1878, 54749). With 22-25 abdominal vertebrae and 19-22 caudal vertebrae (Ref. 54749). Colouration: Upper part olive-brown, lower part whitish; ventral side of head pinkish; a more or less distinct silvery lateral band; fins olive-like; iris silver (Ref. 1877, 1878). Specimens preserved in alcohol have a general colouration ranging from light yellow-brown to gray yellow-brown, with operculum, ventral region and middle of flanks lighter (Ref. 54749).
Biology:  Found in rivers and streams (Ref. 188), also lakes (Ref. 41580). A small predator, feeding on shrimps, mayfly nymphs and little fish (Ref. 41580, 54749).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 April 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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