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Synbranchiformes (Spiny eels) >
Mastacembelidae (Spiny eels)
Etymology: Mastacembelus: Greek, mastax, -agos = bite + Greek, emballo = to throw oneself (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Captain Geoffrey Catchpole of Njiana farm, Bunia, Congo, collected the holotype. We have found nothing more about him. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Fowler.
Issue
Considered a synonym of M. congicus in Vreven 2001 [A systematic revision of the African spiny-eels (Mastacembelidae; Synbranchiformes), PhD Thesis, vol.1]
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
Africa: known only from the type locality in the upper Aruwimi drainage (middle Congo River basin): Tinda, tributary of Shari-Ituri in Bunia region of the Kibali-Ituri district, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 6060, 42005).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 29.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6060)
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
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)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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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=0.00269 (0.00128 - 0.00564), b=2.94 (2.76 - 3.12), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.7 ±0.6 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 (20 of 100).