Teleostei (teleosts) >
Characiformes (Characins) >
Alestidae (African tetras)
Etymology: Bathyaethiops: Greek, bathys = deep + Greek, Aethiopia, an African country (Ref. 45335); atercrinis: Ater, from the Latin, meaning black or dark, and crinis, in the sense of the tail of a comet; named in reference to the striking black marking of the caudal peduncle and anal fin of mature males (Ref. 91757).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic; pH range: 7.6 - 7.6. Tropical; 21°C - 23°C (Ref. 91757)
Africa: Only known from Lékoumou River, a small tributary of the Louessé River in the Kouilou-Niari basin (Ref. 91757).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 4.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 91757)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 18 - 20; Vertebrae: 33 - 35. Diagnosis: This species is distinguished from congeners by the possession of 21-24 scales in the longitudinal series vs. 28-42 scales, and from Brachypetersius altus by the possession of a short, abridged lateral line of 6 or 7 pored scales vs. a complete lateral line of 20-28 pored scales (Ref. 91757). Unique among related taxa in displaying marked sexual dichromatism, and dimorphism of the anal-fin skeleton; with medially expanded first anal-fin pterygiophores, markedly enlarged branched anal-ray segments, and strongly convex anal-fin profiles characterizing males; they also display a distinctive black blotch extending from just above midline behind the dorsal fin and passing ventrally over the anal fin (Ref. 91757).
This species was caught close to the bank of the river, at a depth of about 1 meter over sand and mud; banks covered with dense, undisturbed riparian vegetation consisting of large numbers of entangling lianas covering large trees which also bear many epiphytic orchids (Ref. 91757). Water temperature in the shallows where most specimens were collected was between 21.0-22.5°C and pH 7.6; water very turbid and current moderately rapid (Ref. 91757).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Mamonekene, V. and M.L. Stiassny, 2012. A new Bathyaethiops (Characiformes: Alestidae) from the Lékoumou River (Kouilou-Niari Basin) in the Republic of Congo; First record of the genus in the Lower Guinean Ichthyofaunal Province. Copeia 2012(3):478-483. (Ref. 91757)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5156 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01072 (0.00484 - 0.02371), b=3.02 (2.84 - 3.20), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.3 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
