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Microctenopoma intermedium (Pellegrin, 1920) Blackspot climbing perch |
| Family: | Anabantidae (Climbing gouramies) | |||
| Max. size: | 6.2 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | benthopelagic; freshwater | |||
| Distribution: | Africa: Okavango, upper and lower Zambezi and Kafue rivers, and St. Lucia basin, KwaZulu-Natal (Ref. 52193). Also in the southern tributaries of the Congo system (Ref. 52193, 120641), including the Kwango, Kwilu, Lulua, upper Lualaba (Ref. 26634) and Luapula-Mweru system (Ref. 361, 42135, 95585). | |||
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 15-16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 8-9; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Description: Body slender, ellipsoid; abdomen short, pelvics far forward, caudal rounded (Ref. 52193). Head pointed, with eyes far forward; mouth small, with sharp, conical teeth (Ref. 52193). Dorsal fin with 15-16 spines and 8-9 soft rays; anal fin with 8-9 spines and 8-9 soft rays (Ref. 52193). Lateral line scales 25-30 (Ref. 52193). Colouration: Usually dark brown or black, head with dark bars radiating from eye, 7-13 dark vertical bars along body and a black spot at base of caudal fin, lappets of dorsal and anal fins white (Ref. 52193). Breeding males turn turquoise with dark strips (Ref. 52193). |
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| Biology: | Occurs in dense marginal vegetation of rivers, lakes, lagoons and channels of swamps and floodplains (Ref. 52193). It feeds on insects and other small organisms (Ref. 52193). Males build a bubble nest on the water surface under which spawning takes place; the eggs float and are stowed in the nest, to be guarded by the male (Ref. 52193). Its shallow water habitat make it susceptible to aerial spraying of insecticides (Ref. 7248). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 September 2016 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||