Xenocharax spilurus Günther, 1867
Xenocharax spilurus
photo by RMCA

Family:  Distichodontidae (Distichodus)
Max. size:  26 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater,
Distribution:  Africa: coastal river basins of the Republic of Congo, Gabon and Cameroon (Ref. 81638, 114931). Reports from the Congo River basin (Ref. 4910, 45441, 46233, 80287, 81638) refer to Xenocharax crassus (Ref. 114931).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 19-24; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 13-17. Diagnosis: two rows of teeth in upper jaw and 3 in lower jaw; completely pored lateral line with 63-75 lateral line scales; total of 19-24 rays in dorsal fin and 13-17 rays in anal fin; 13-16 scales between dorsal fin origin and lateral line (Ref. 81638). Description: body moderately high, depth 0.36-0.42x SL with greater proportional depth in larger specimens; prepelvic region transversely flattened; premaxilla with 2 rows of bicuspid teeth and 14-16 teeth in outer series; maxilla with 4-6 teeth along anterodorsal margin; dentary with 3 tooth rows, outer row of bicuspid teeth along margin of jaw and 2 rows internal to replacement tooth trench; approximately 15-18 teeth in outer row of dentary; adipose fin moderately developed and scaled basally; body scales ctenoid and relatively small; 13-16 scales between dorsal fin origin and lateral line (excluding median scales); 10-11 scales between anal fin origin and lateral line (excluding median scales); D: IV-V,15-19, A: III-IV,10-13; 10, rarely 11, pelvic rays with lateral ray unbranched (Ref. 81638). Coloration: preserved specimens yellowish to yellow-brown; body with series of dark, vertical, dorsally posteriorly concave bars; bars extend ventrally to approximately lateral line in small to moderate-sized individuals and to level of horizontal through pectoral fin insertion in some larger specimens; dorsal portions of body dark, particularly along predorsal region; dorsal portions of head dark; distinct dark patch on opercle, prominent anteriorly rounded, dark spot on lateral surface of caudal peduncle; posterior border of spot ranges from approximately straight to posteriorly convex; some populations with dark, scale-sized spots on lateral surface of body; contiguous spots sometimes coalesce into larger marks; median fins, particularly dorsal fin, with rays lined with small dark chromatophores and with membranes dusky (Ref. 81638).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.