Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anabantiformes (Gouramies, snakeheads) >
Anabantidae (Climbing gouramies)
Etymology: Microctenopoma: Greek, mikros = small + Greek, kteis, ktenos = comb + Greek, poma = cover, operculum (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.8 - 7.8; dH range: ? - 25. Tropical; 23°C - 27°C (Ref. 2060)
Africa: lower and central Congo River basin in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 1880, 4910, 41591, 45441, 106290), Republic of the Congo (Ref. 45477, 83895) and Central African Republic (Ref. 45441, 52070). Also in the Chiloango River in Cabinda (Angola) (Ref. 1880, 81650, 120641). Known from a single specimen from the Ogowe in Gabon (Ref. 1880, 81650). Also reported from the Lake Chad basin, but this has not been confirmed by verifiable specimens (Ref. 57414, 81650). Reports from the Aruwimi (middle Congo River basin, Democratic Republic of the Congo)(Ref. 41590, 82705) based on misidentified specimens of M. uelense (Ref. 26634).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.2 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 57414); 5.5 cm SL (female)
Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 10; Anal spines: 9 - 11; Anal soft rays: 9 - 12; Vertebrae: 26 - 27. Diagnosis: 9-11 anal fin spines and 9-12 soft rays (Ref. 57414, 81650), 15-17 dorsal fin spines (Ref. 81650). Flanks and unpaired fins mottled or bearing 6-8 dark vertical, narrowly separated bars; eye diameter 3-3.5 times into head length (Ref. 57414). Interorbital space wide, 2.9-3.4 times in head length; in adults, subopercle usually serrated and caudal fin squared; caudal peduncle developed; breeding males never marked with orange (Ref. 81650).
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274)
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Builds bubble nests.
Norris, S.M., 2003. Anabantidae. p. 691-707. In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douce et saumâtres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, Tome 2. Coll. Faune et Flore tropicales 40. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgique, Museum National d'Histoire Naturalle, Paris, France and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris, France. 815 p. (Ref. 57414)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5002 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00501 (0.00200 - 0.01258), b=3.05 (2.82 - 3.28), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).