Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Écologie
; eau douce démersal; pH range: 7.4 - 8.4; dH range: 7 - 30. Tropical; 23°C - 27°C (Ref. 12468)
Africa: Lake Victoria through Lake Tanganyika and their associated catchment basins to the Upper Zambezi and Okavango Rivers (Ref. 6060). Also in the upper Congo River basin in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 2970, 45616, 93587) and Zambia (Ref. 246, 27609, 45616), in the Zambezi in Zimbabwe (Ref. 94654) and Angola (Ref. 120641) and in eastward flowing rivers of Tanzania (Ref. 4967, 41366).
Taille / Poids / Âge
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 40.0 cm SL mâle / non sexé; (Ref. 80296)
Description synthétique
Clés d'identification | Morphologie | Morphométrie
Épines dorsales (Total) : 18 - 35; Rayons mous dorsaux (Total) : 64 - 73; Épines anales: 2; Rayons mous anaux: 67 - 80; Vertèbres: 95 - 96. Diagnosis: Anterior nostril in the form of a short tentacle; snout produced as a fleshy appendage (Ref. 34290). Number of dorsal-fin spines 18-35; anal fin with 2 separate spines (Ref. 34290, 123814). Colour extremely variable, ground colour brown with a variable reticulated and blotched pattern (Ref. 34290).
Mainly riverine species, but also occurs in lakes near river mouths and in vegetated fringes and in swamps (Ref. 80296). Also found in rapids where it hides among rocks (Ref. 85214). Essentially a sedentary fish, nocturnal and usually waiting for its prey to swim or drift within range whereupon fish will dart out of its shelter to seize it (Ref. 89002). Feeds on aquatic insect larvae (Ref. 80296), lithophilic insects (Ref. 12526), fish (Ref. 13624, 27292), shrimps (Ref. 246, 80296), oligochetes and occasionally vegetable matter (Ref. 80296, 89002). Breeds during flood season, in inundated areas (Ref. 80296). Eggs yellow and large, probably spawned among water weeds (Ref. 89002).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturité | Reproduction | Frai | Œufs | Fécondité | Larves
Travers, R.A., G. Eynikel and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde, 1986. Mastacembelidae. p. 415-427. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 6060)
Statut dans la liste rouge de l'IUCN (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Menace pour l'homme
Harmless
Utilisations par l'homme
Outils
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