| Family: |
Alestidae (African tetras) |
| Max. size: |
40 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
pelagic; freshwater, |
| Distribution: |
Africa: endemic to but widely distributed in the Congo River basin (Ref. 41594, 42019, 42510, 44840, 45616, 46233, 46253, 80450) in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 42019), Republic of Congo (Ref. 44840), Cameroon (Ref. 46233) and the Central African Republic (Ref. 80450). Report from the Malagarasi in Tanzania probably based on a misidentification (Ref. 42019). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal soft rays: 17-19. Diagnosis: very well developed adipose eyelid; 17-19 anal-fin rays (III, 14-16); 17-20 gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch; 39-43 lateral line scales; dorsal-fin origin at about same level of pelvic-fin insertions (Ref. 42019).
Description: very similar to A. macrophthalmus, lower number of branched anal fin rays (Ref. 42019). |
| Biology: |
Omnivore; remnants of small fish, fruits (Ref. 4910), aquatic and terrestrial insects and vegetation (Ref. 4910, 41580) found in stomach. Found in schools, can frequently be seen jumping above water surface (Ref. 41594). Very similar to A. macrophthalmus (Ref. 42019, 42480). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.