| Family: |
Distichodontidae (Distichodus) |
| Max. size: |
20.8 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
pelagic; freshwater |
| Distribution: |
Africa: this species has been reported from the Niger Delta (Nigeria), the Lower Ouémé (Benin) (Ref. 2936, 86396), the Cross River (Ref. 2936, 51193, 81638, 86396) (Nigeria, Cameroon) and the Wouri River (Cameroon) (Ref. 51193, 81638). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-17; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 15-18. Diagnosis: snout longer than half the head length (southern Nigeria and Cameroon); body depth 5.25-7x and head length 2.8-3x SL; head 3.75-4.85x longer than wide; snout more than half of head length (53-58%); scale formula 11.5-13.5/95-100/11-13 (Ref. 2936, 86396). 92-104 (Ref. 81638) or 95-100 (Ref. 2936, 86396) lateral line scales.
Description: originally named Gavialocharax on account of its long, beak-like snout; upper jaw with 2 canines anteriorly, followed by 18-27 teeth becoming gradually smaller; lower jaw armed with single anterior canine and 17-23 lateral teeth; 25-28 scales around caudal peduncle; 7-8.5 scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin bases (Ref. 2936, 86396). Jaws very elongate and slender, with upper jaw pivoting upwards on snout to result in pronounced gape when mouth open; anterior teeth becoming progressively shorter posteriorly with posterior teeth more closely packed; caudal fin forked with lobes rounded and densely covered with small scales; 7-8 scales between anal fin origin and lateral line; D: II-III,11-13; A: II-III,13-15 (Ref. 81638). Small scales, strongly ctenoid (Ref. 2936, 81638, 86396).
Coloration: side and lower part of body silvery; back, snout and top of head olivaceous green (Ref. 2936, 86396). Preserved specimens yellowish brown; mid-dorsal region of body dark from rear of head to origin of dorsal fin (Ref. 81638). Dark mid-lateral band from eye to central part of caudal fin; a second dorso-lateral dark band from nape to base of caudal fin, joining mid-dorsal profile at level of adipose fin (Ref. 2936, 86386). Lobes of caudal fin with 2 transverse dark bands and with distal dark spots variable present on distal portions of each lobe (Ref. 81638). |
| Biology: |
Maximum TL was recorded at 23 cm (Ref. 7094). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 May 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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