| Family: |
Alestidae (African tetras) |
| Max. size: |
8 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
pelagic; freshwater; pH range: 5.5 - 7.5; dH range: 1 - 10 |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Cameroon and Sierra Leone. Savanna form found in upper reaches of the Niger and the Volta (Ref. 2880, 5331, 81279). Also found in Congo (Ref. 5331). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 2-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 19-24. Diagnosis: lateral line complete; 24-30 lateral line scales; 16-21 anal fin branched rays; 6/8 premaxillary teeth; 11-15 gill rakers on lower part of first branchial arch; caudal and adipose fins bright red; rayed dorsal fin colourless (Ref. 2880; 81279). Body height 3.1-3.3 times in standard length; head length 3.9-4.1 times in standard length; cuspid number: on external row of upper jaw 3, on internal row of upper jaw 5-7, on external row of lower jaw 3-6, on internal row of lower jaw 1 (Ref. 42032).
Description: anal fin with 3 unbranched and 16-21 branched rays; sexual dimorphism in anal fins of adults (Ref. 2880, 81279).
Coloration: body silvery, white belly and glossy lateral stripe; fine line of melanophores at base of anal fin; dorsal, adipose and caudal fins bright red, other no color; in forest zones, extremity of dorsal fin blackened adults; longitudinal band becomes black after preservation in formalin (Ref. 2880, 81279). |
| Biology: |
Affinities: M. voltae (with dorsal point black): maybe 2 species M. o. occidentalis (Günther, 1899) forest zone form with dorsal point blackened & M. o. voltae Roman, 1966 savanna form without blackened dorsal point |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 March 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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