Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anabantiformes (Gouramies, snakeheads) >
Anabantidae (Climbing gouramies)
Etymology: Ctenopoma: Greek, kteis, ktenos = comb + Greek, poma, -atos = cover (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Mary Henrietta Kingsley (1862–1900) was an ethnographic and scientific writer and explorer. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 19. Tropical; 22°C - 28°C (Ref. 1672)
Africa: Senegal (Ref. 57414) to Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 93897), including the basins of the Senegal, Volta, Niger (Ref. 57414) and Congo (Ref. 81650). Also reported from Mauritania (Ref. 55783). Widespread in Lower Guinea but known from relatively few localities (Ref. 81650).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 12.9 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 8992); 18.2 cm SL (female); max. published weight: 125.00 g (Ref. 3799)
Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 13; Anal spines: 8 - 10; Anal soft rays: 10 - 13; Vertebrae: 25 - 26. Diagnosis: snout blunt; jaws weakly protrusible (ascending process of premaxilla short, not reaching anterior border of orbit) (Ref. 57414). Pelvic fins very lightly pigmented (Ref. 57414, 81650, 93191) or unpigmented (Ref. 81650). Labyrinth composed of a complex, multiple folded plate (Ref. 57414, 81650, 93191). Adults larger than 75 mm SL; body depth into SL usually fewer than 3 times; spot at base of caudal fin without pale ring in adults; lachrymal never serrated (Ref. 57414). Body and head grey or tan (Ref. 81650), flanks without faint mottling (Ref. 57414, 81650, 93191). 3-3.5 scales in upper and 8-8.5 in lower vertical series (Ref. 93191). 4 scales from last pored scale in upper lateral line to dorsal-fin base (counting pored scale) (Ref. 57414). 10-18 pored scales in upper lateral line (Ref. 81650), 9-14 in lower (Ref. 93191). 11-16 scales on right operculum; interorbit into head length 2.3-3.0 (Ref. 93191).
Obligate air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Prefers forest regions (Ref. 7393, 57414).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Produces up to 20,000 eggs.
Norris, S.M., 2003. Anabantidae. p. 691-707. In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douce et saumâtres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, Tome 2. Coll. Faune et Flore tropicales 40. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgique, Museum National d'Histoire Naturalle, Paris, France and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris, France. 815 p. (Ref. 57414)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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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=0.02138 (0.01250 - 0.03658), b=3.02 (2.87 - 3.17), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (12 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 121 [38, 283] mg/100g; Iron = 1.17 [0.55, 2.17] mg/100g; Protein = 17.4 [15.6, 19.2] %; Omega3 = 0.518 [0.163, 1.530] g/100g; Selenium = 71.5 [25.9, 200.1] μg/100g; VitaminA = 137 [42, 536] μg/100g; Zinc = 2.52 [1.54, 3.89] mg/100g (wet weight);
