Teleostei (teleosts) >
Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues) >
Mormyridae (Elephantfishes)
Etymology: Petrocephalus: Latin, petra = stone + Greek, kephale = head (Ref. 45335); petersi: The species name petersi is given in honour of the German herpetologist Wilhelm C.H. Peters who had carried out a major fish survey of the lower Zambezi region, and discovered many of the endemics and other widespread species during his 'Naturwissenschaftliche Reise nach Mossambique 1842-1848' (Ref. 91771).
Eponymy: Wilhelm Karl Hartwig Peters (1815–1883) was a German zoologist and traveller who made some very important collections in Mozambique. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
Africa: Zambezi River Delta and Melela River (Ref. 91771).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 91771)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18 - 20; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 25 - 26. Diagnosis: Body depth 28.7-32.3% of standard length; predorsal length 62.3-65.8% of standard length; preanal length 59.5-63.7% of standard length; length of snout to centre of eye 34.5-38.3% of head length; length of snout to posterior orbital rim of eye 44.2-47.9% of head length; number of scales around caudal peduncle 12-16 (Ref. 91771).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Habitat of type locality is a medium-sized stream, sand substrate with lots of leaf litter and marginal grass; prefers freshwater (<1% salinity) (Ref. 91771).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kramer, B., R. Bills, P. Skelton and M. Wink, 2012. A critical revision of the churchill snoutfish, genus Petrocephalus Marcusen, 1854 (Actinopterygii: Teleostei: Mormyridae), from southern and eastern Africa, with the recognition of Petrocephalus tanensis, and the description of five new species. Journal of Natural History 46(35-36):2179-2258. (Ref. 91771)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources