| Family: |
Alestidae (African tetras) |
| Max. size: |
55 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 600.0 g; max. reported age: 7 years |
| Environment: |
pelagic; freshwater; pH range: 6 - 6.5; dH range: 4 - 18, potamodromous |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Chad, Niger, Volta, Gambia, Senegal (Ref. 2880, 81279). Outside West Africa this species is found in Nile basin, including Lower Nile, White Nile, Blue Nile and Murchison Nile (Ref. 5331) and Lake Mobutu Sese Seko [=Lake Albert] and Omo-Lake Turkana system (Ref. 2880). |
| Diagnosis: |
Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 21-26; Vertebrae: 45-48. Diagnosis: multicuspid teeth set in two rows and not overlapping the jaws when the mouth is closed; teeth stout, not compressed; eyes without or with weakly developed adipose lids; anal fin with 22-26 rays (Ref. 28714). At most 27 gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch (18-27); 3 unbranched and 18-23 branched anal-fin rays; dorsal-fin origin distinctly behind level of pelvic-fin insertions (Ref. 2880, 81279). Scales small (Ref. 28714), 43-51 in lateral line (Ref. 2880, 81279).
Description: dorsal-fin origin behind level of pelvic-fin insertions, but not as far back as in A. baremoze; well developed fontanel (Ref. 2880, 81279). See additional characters for A. baremoze for sexual dimorphism in Alestes species.
Colouration: silvery color, back darker gray or bluish, belly white; fins grayish or slightly tinted with yellow orange; inferior lobe of caudal red; both caudal lobes edged with black along fork; no humeral or precaudal spots (Ref. 2880, 81279). |
| Biology: |
Omnivorous, stomachs examined contained seeds, zooplankton, insects or fish fry (Ref. 28714). Two subspecies: Alestes dentex dentex in the Nile and Alestes dentex sethente (Valenciennes, 1849) in Sudanian basins of West Africa. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 June 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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