Teleostei (teleosts) >
Characiformes (Characins) >
Alestidae (African tetras)
Etymology: Micralestes: Greek, mikros = small + Greek,lestes = thief (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic; pH range: 5.5 - 7.5; dH range: 1 - 10. Tropical; 22°C - 26°C (Ref. 12468)
Africa: Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Cameroon and Sierra Leone. Savanna form found in upper reaches of the Niger and the Volta (Ref. 2880, 5331, 81279). Also found in Congo (Ref. 5331).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 8.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2880)
Dorsal spines (total): 2 - 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 19 - 24. Diagnosis: lateral line complete; 24-30 lateral line scales; 16-21 anal fin branched rays; 6/8 premaxillary teeth; 11-15 gill rakers on lower part of first branchial arch; caudal and adipose fins bright red; rayed dorsal fin colourless (Ref. 2880; 81279). Body height 3.1-3.3 times in standard length; head length 3.9-4.1 times in standard length; cuspid number: on external row of upper jaw 3, on internal row of upper jaw 5-7, on external row of lower jaw 3-6, on internal row of lower jaw 1 (Ref. 42032).
Affinities: M. voltae (with dorsal point black): maybe 2 species M. o. occidentalis (Günther, 1899) forest zone form with dorsal point blackened & M. o. voltae Roman, 1966 savanna form without blackened dorsal point
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Teugels, G.G., C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and K. Traoré, 1988. État des connaissances sur la faune ichtyologique des bassins côtiers de Côte d'Ivoire et de l'ouest du Ghana. Rev. Hydrobiol. Trop. 21(3):221-237. (Ref. 272)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
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