Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps) > Smiliogastrinae
Etymology: Enteromius: Greek, enteron = intestine + Greek, myo, mys = muscle (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Weber.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.5 - 7.0; dH range: ? - 10. Tropical; 22°C - 24°C (Ref. 1672); 13°S - 30°S
Africa: East coastal rivers and freshwater lakes from the Ruvuma (Tanzania-Mozambique border) southwards to the Vungu in southern KwaZulu-Natal; generally confined to lowveld and coastal plain regions but penetrates inland in larger systems such as the Limpopo (Ref. 7248, 52193). Also in Kafue River system (Ref. 27607). Also reported from the upper Zambezi and the Kwango River (middle Congo River basin) in Angola (Ref. 11970), but the latter is unconfirmed in other sources and needs confirmation. Reported as Enteromius cf. viviparous from the Zambezi, Okavango and Kunene in Angola in Ref. 120641.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 4 - ? cm
Max length : 7.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 52193)
Found in vegetated pools of streams and rivers and lake margins (Ref. 52193). It feeds on aquatic insects and other small organisms (Ref. 52193). Breeds in summer, breeding pairs lay eggs on submerged roots and vegetation (Ref. 52193). Reaches maturity within a year (Ref. 7248, 52193).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Despite of the scientific name viviparus which translates into "live bearer", the species lays eggs like all the other members of its genus.
Skelton, P.H., 2001. A complete guide to the freshwater fishes of southern Africa. Cape Town (South Africa): Struik Publishers, 395 p. (Ref. 52193)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00562 (0.00253 - 0.01250), b=3.09 (2.89 - 3.29), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.9 ±0.31 se; based on food items.
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).
