Teleostei (teleosts) >
Characiformes (Characins) >
Distichodontidae (Distichodus)
Etymology: Nannocharax: Latin, nannus = small + Greek, charax = a marine fish without identification (Ref. 45335); signifer: The Latin word signifer meaning 'colour sergeant' or 'standard bearer' refers to the unusual red-orange colour on the dorsal fin; a noun in apposition (Ref. 85591).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic; pH range: 7.0 - 7.4. Tropical; 28°C - 29°C (Ref. 85591)
Africa: Ouémé River basin in Benin (Ref. 85591).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 85591)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 14; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 10 - 11; Vertebrae: 38 - 39. Diagnosis: Nannocharax signifer is distinguished from all other Nannocharax species in West Africa by the red-orange colouration of the anterior part of its dorsal fin (Ref. 85591). The combination of the following characters is also diagnostic: no continuous black band along the flank; multiple x-shaped body colour pattern extending on the lower half of the flank; 46-48 lateral line scales; and 4-5 scales between anus and origin of anal fin (Ref. 85591).
Found in a narrow forest stream with dense vegetation on its banks and with bottom substrate of mud, sand, leaves, roots and drift wood; also found in larger streams with only spare vegetation in the form of small bushes and solitary trees and with bottom substrate consisting mainly of sand and gravel (Ref. 85591).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Moritz, T., 2009. Nannocharax signifer, a new species of fish (Characiformes: Distichodontidae) from the Ouémé River basin, Benin. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 20(4):289-294. (Ref. 85591)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of potential interest
Tools
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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=0.00447 (0.00189 - 0.01058), b=3.17 (2.96 - 3.38), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
