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Gonorynchiformes (Milkfishes) >
Phractolaemidae (Hingemouths)
Etymology: Phractolaemus: Greek, phraktos = fence + Greek, laimos = throttle (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Dr William John Ansorge (1850–1913) was an English explorer and collector who was active in Africa in the second half of the 19th century. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Οικολογία
; Γλυκού νερού βενθοπελαγικό; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: ? - 25. Tropical; 25°C - 30°C (Ref. 13371)
Africa: in West Africa from Lake Nokoué (Ouémé River, Benin) (Ref. 81277) to Cross River (Cameroon) (Ref. 52397), including Ogun, Osse and Niger Delta (Ref. 81277). Also in the middle Congo River basin (Ref. 93183) in Republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Μέγεθος / Βάρος / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 25.0 cm TL αρσενικό/απροσδιόριστο; (Ref. 93183)
Short description
Κλείδες προσδιορισμού | Μορφολογία | Μορφομετρία
Ραχιαίες άκανθες (συνολικά) : 0; Μαλακές ραχιαίες ακτίνες (συνολικά) : 6; Εδρικές άκανθες: 0; Μαλακές εδρικές ακτίνες: 6; Σπόνδυλοι: 34 - 38. Diagnosis: head depressed and strongly ossified; anterior nostril elongate, forming an oblique, forward-pointing tube; posterior nostril crescent-shaped, located just behind the narial tube (Ref. 2913, 81277). Mouth small, protrusible (Ref. 245, 31256, 81277), placed at tip of a proboscis and opening upwards between the narial tubes (Ref. 2913, 81277), on upper surface of snout (Ref. 245, 31256). Narrow gill opening, but opercles very well developed, covering also the underside of the head where they overlap (Ref. 2913, 81277, 93183).
Facultative or obligate air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Lives in forest pools and swamps (Ref. 41580). Microphagous (Ref. 4910, 41580, 45483), especially phytophagous (epiphytes), and detritiphagous (Ref. 41580). Swim bladder entirely alveolar, functioning like a lung; this adaptation to aerial breathing allows the fish to survive under poor oxygenation conditions (Ref. 2913, 81277); recorded from nearly deoxygenated lungfish nest in Pool Malebo, Congo DR (Ref. 41585). Gonads, which are largely fused, are situated ventrally, not dorsally, in abdominal cavity (Ref. 41580). Mouth can be projected as a small trunk (Ref. 2913). Eggs transparent, yellow-greenish, 1.5-1.7mm diameter; large females may have several thousands of eggs (Ref. 41580). Particular blood system, with dark coloured and an abundant amouth of blood (Ref. 4910).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Γεννητική Ωρίμανση | Αναπαραγωγή | Γεννοβολία | Αβγά | Γονιμότητα | Προνύμφες
Males and females have lateral tubercles on their body which probably aid in maintaining contact during spawning (Ref. 38266).
Lévêque, C., 1990. Phractolaemidae. p. 189-191. In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douces et saumâtres d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Tome I. Coll. Faune Tropicale n° XXVIII. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, and O.R.S.T.O.M.,Paris, 384 p. (Ref. 2913)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Εργαλεία
Special reports
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Διαδικτυακές πηγές
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00437 (0.00172 - 0.01106), b=3.13 (2.90 - 3.36), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Τροφικό Επίπεδο (Ref.
69278): 2.3 ±0.1 se; based on diet studies.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (15 of 100).
