Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Danionidae (Danios) > Chedrinae
Etymology: Engraulicypris: Greek, eggraulis, -eos = anchovy + Greek, kypris = the name of Aphrodite, proceeding from Kypris, (Cyprus), Greek, kyprinos = carp (Ref. 45335); brevianalis: The specific name brevianalis alludes to the relatively short anal fin (Ref. 116496).
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 11°S - 29°S
Africa: Limpopo River, Incomati River, Pongolo River, Saint Lucia system and Mkhuze River in Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique (Ref. 116496). Also known from Okavango (Ref. 7248, 52193), upper Zambezi system (Ref. 7248, 52193) and middle Luapula (upper Congo River basin) in Zambia (Ref. 52959). Reports from Orang River below Augrabies Falls (Ref. 7248, 33857, 52193) refer to Engraulicypris gariepinus (Ref. 116496).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 52193)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15 - 20; Vertebrae: 37 - 38. Diagnosis: Caudal fin membrane clear towards vivid yellow at fork; anal fin extending two thirds of length of caudal peduncle; caudal peduncle moderately long; operculum entirely, not partially, shiny; body midline silver, not black; iris dark to light grey, not white; head with tubercles along lower jaw and lower head in breeding males; snout rounded, not pointed, darker dorsally; pelvic fin melanophores absent (Ref. 116496).
Pelagic species preferring close proximity to substrate and seeking out slacker areas such as backwater, eddies and pools below riffles (Ref. 116496). It occurs in shoals and prefers well-aerated, open water in flowing rivers, favouring the upper stratum (Ref. 7248, 52193, 116496). Feeds from water column on planktonic crustaceans and insects, such as midges and ants (Ref. 7248, 52193, 116496). Breeding occurs in early summer; appears to migrate up streams in spring to breed where it is found in tributaries (Ref. 7248, 116496).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Riddin, M.A., I.R. Bills and M.H. Villet, 2016. Phylogeographic, morphometric and taxonomic re-evaluation of the river sardine, Mesobola brevianalis (Boulenger, 1908) (Teleostei, Cyprinidae, Chedrini). ZooKeys 641:121-150. (Ref. 116496)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
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