Teleostei (teleosts) >
Clupeiformes (Herrings) >
Dorosomatidae (Gizzard shads and sardinellas)
Etymology: Microthrissa: Grek, mikros = small + Greek, thrissa, -es = shad (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Poll.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic. Tropical; 3°N - 7°S
Africa: Congo River system in Dungu River and its tributary Garamba River (Ref. 188), and Lower Congo River (Ref. 188) in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 47399). Also reported as Microthrissa cf. minuta from mouth of Niemba River, Lukuga River, an outflow of Lake Tanganyika, in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 93587).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 4.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 47399)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 18 - 21; Vertebrae: 40 - 44. Diagnosis: Body moderately deep, its depth about 22-30% of standard length; scutes strongly keeled, 1 or 2 before base of first pectoral fin ray, 11-12 pre-pelvic and 6-8 post-pelvic scutes; snout pointed; lower jaw not or slightly projecting, included in upper when mouth closed, with small teeth limited to anterior part; pre-maxilla with 12-30 small conical teeth directed inwards; maxilla blade slender, more than 3 times as long as deep, upper edge with a ridge flared outward; posterior supra-maxilla small, spatulate, shaft as long as blade; lower gillrakers 18-22 (Ref. 188, 47399, 93833). Also characterized by 37-43 scales in a longitudinal series and anal fin with 18-21 rays (Ref. 47399). It resembles Microthrissa royauxi, which has fewer gillrakers but more anal fin rays, 14-17 and 23-27 respectively (Ref. 188). It is distinguished from Microthrissa whiteheadi by a lower number of teeth on the pre-maxilla, 12-30 vs. 32-40 in M. whiteheadi; and additionally by a higher number of lower gillrakers, 18-22 vs. 14-18, a lower number of anal fin rays, 18-21 vs. 20-25, and a lower number of pre-pelvic scutes, 11-12 vs. 13-16 (Ref. 46514, 47399).
A riverine species (Ref. 188).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Gourène, G. and G.G. Teugels, 1989. Révision systématique du genre Microthrissa Boulenger, 1902 des eaux douces africaines (Pisces, Clupeidae). Rev. Hydrobiol. Trop. 22(2):129-156. (Ref. 47399)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5312 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00912 (0.00433 - 0.01920), b=3.04 (2.87 - 3.21), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.0 ±0.3 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 (10 of 100).
