Neolebias gossei (Poll & Lambert, 1964)

Family:  Distichodontidae (Distichodus)
Max. size:  2.8 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: Lower Guinea endemic, only known from the Ogowe River basin in Gabon (Ref. 81638).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-15; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 11-11. Diagnosis: 50-52 lateral line scales; 10 scales between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin; lateral surface of snout and often also regions ventral and posteroventral of orbit with highly elaborate laterosensory canal system formed of multiple intersecting segments (Ref. 81638). Description: body moderately elongate, depth 0.20-0.22 SL; premaxilla and dentary with 2 rows of teeth; teeth of both rows in upper jaw and outer row of lower jaw bicuspid, teeth of inner row of lower jaw either bicuspid or conical; premaxilla with 6-7 teeth in outer series, maxilla with 6-9 teeth along anterodorsal margin, dentary with 8 teeth in outer series; head profile relatively acute anteriorly; laterosensory canal system of head elaborated with series of intersecting canal segments on lateral surface of head anterior, ventral, posterior and posterodorsal of orbit, on snout, lower lip and opercle; scales ctenoid and of moderate size; lateral line incomplete with pores on anterior 6 scales; 17-18 scales between dorsal-fin origin and mid-ventral line (excluding median scales); D: IV,11; A: III,8 (Ref. 81638). Coloration: preserved specimens yellowish; mid-lateral surface of head with dispersed dark pigmentation continuous posteriorly with band on body; mid-lateral surface of body with thin, longitudinal band expanded into series of larger dark spots in region slightly posterior of supraleithrum to caudal peduncle; anterior most pigmentation patch horizontally elongate and others rounded; mid-dorsal region anterior to origin of dorsal fin with dark band; dark band runs along base of anal fin to rear of caudal peduncle (Ref. 81638).
Biology:  Maximum TL was recorded at 3.6 cm (Ref. 7094).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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