Teleostei (teleosts) >
Synbranchiformes (Spiny eels) >
Mastacembelidae (Spiny eels)
Etymology: Mastacembelus: Greek, mastax, -agos = bite + Greek, emballo = to throw oneself (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: This is a toponym referring to the Sanaga River, Cameroon, where the species is endemic. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: endemic to the Sanaga River basin in Cameroon (Ref. 6060, 81678).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 24.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 81678)
Dorsal spines (total): 24 - 26; Dorsal soft rays (total): 89 - 103; Anal soft rays: 80 - 93; Vertebrae: 86 - 90. Diagnosis: head relatively long, 15.7-21.1% SL (mean 18.2%), decreasing with size; origin of first dorsal spine situated before posterior edge of pectoral fin, (-9.5)-(-0.5)% SL [mean (-6.3%)]; body relatively deep, 7.8-9.6% SL (mean 8.7%); distance from tip of snout to last externally visible dorsal spine 49.0-56.2% SL (mean 52.1%), decreasing with size; origin of soft dorsal fin clearly anterior to origin of soft anal fin; lower jaw length 21.3-26.9% HL (mean 23.9%), increasing with size; distance from gill opening to dorsal pectoral fin base relatively short, 4.3-9.6% HL (mean 6.9%); 23+1 to 25+1 (median 25+1) dorsal spines (Ref. 81678).
Occurs in slow streams with a sandy bottom (Ref. 6060). Maximum reported total length 252 mm (Ref. 81678).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Travers, R.A., G. Eynikel and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde, 1986. Mastacembelidae. p. 415-427. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 6060)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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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=0.00269 (0.00128 - 0.00564), b=2.94 (2.76 - 3.12), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.7 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (19 of 100).
