| Family: |
Distichodontidae (Distichodus) |
| Max. size: |
5.6 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
pelagic; freshwater |
| Distribution: |
Africa: found in the Sanaga (Ref. 80507, 81638), Ntem (Ref. 70994, 51193, 81638), Kienké and Nyong (Ref. 7094, 81638) River systems. Also found in the Dja River (Sangha drainage, middle Congo River basin) (Ref. 7094, 46233, 80507, 81638). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-15; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 9-12. Diagnosis: 46-50 lateral line scales, pored except for 1-2 terminal scales; 7-9 branched anal fin rays; tip of pelvic fin falling short of, or barely extending to rear of, vent; dorsal portions of body with distinct dark, vertically oriented dark marks that form saddle-shaped pigmentation pattern; dark pigmentation on body extending distinctly below horizontal through base of pectoral fin in form of relatively narrow, vertical bars; adipose fin unpigmented (Ref. 81638).
Description: body depth 0.16-0.19 SL, ventrally somewhat flattened along underside of head and chest; mouth barely subterminal; anterior head profile approximately equal dorsally and ventrally or slightly more pronounced dorsally; mouth barely subterminal, premaxilla with 5 teeth; maxilla edentulous; dentary with 5, rarely 4, teeth; lower jaw moderate, with width posteriorly equal to approximately one-half orbital height in larger specimens; middle pelvic rays in many larger specimens somewhat longer than adjoining rays; body scales ctenoid and of moderate size; 4-5 scales below lateral line to anal fin origin; D: II-III,10-12; A: II-III,7-9 (Ref. 81638).
Coloration: ground color tan, snout and dorsal portion of head variably dusky in preserved specimens; scattered pigmentation on dorsal portion of opercle; scales of dorsal portion of body outlined with dark chromatophores, more so in larger individuals; dorsal portion of body with 11-13 dark, saddle-shaped marks; lateral surface of body with 14-16 vertical bars of irregular form that extend slightly ventral of horizontal through base of insertions of pectoral fin along most of body, but reach to ventral mid-line in region posterior of origin of anal fin; dorsally positioned, dark, saddle-shaped marks sometimes contiguous with dark vertical bars (Ref. 81638). Details on fin coloration can be found in Ref. 81638. |
| Biology: |
|
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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