Teleostei (teleosts) >
Synbranchiformes (Spiny eels) >
Mastacembelidae (Spiny eels)
Etymology: Mastacembelus: Greek, mastax, -agos = bite + Greek, emballo = to throw oneself (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: AntoineAlfred Marche (1844–1898) was a French explorer and naturalist. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Sauvage.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: Kribi River basin (Cameroon) to the Kouilou-Niari (Republic of Congo); also known from the lower Congo River and Pool Malebo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), forming the south-eastern distribution limit, and from the Dja River (middle Congo River basin), forming its north-eastern distribution border (Ref. 81678).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 32.6 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 81678)
Dorsal spines (total): 23 - 28; Dorsal soft rays (total): 60 - 75; Anal spines: 2 - 3; Anal soft rays: 61 - 83; Vertebrae: 71 - 85. Diagnosis: 22+1 - 27+1 (median 24+1) dorsal spines; postorbital length relatively short, 53.3-62.6% HL (mean 58.2%); pectoral fin relatively long, 24.7-38.1% HL (mean 30.5%); distance from anterior border of snout to last externally visible dorsal spine 53.9-62.2% SL (mean 57.1%), decreasing with size; origin of soft dorsal fin at about same level as origin of soft anal fin; lower jaw length relatively short, 14.4-23.1% HL (mean 18.3%), increasing with size; origin of first dorsal spine situated before, below, or just posterior to posterior edge of pectoral fin, (-27.9)-2.0% HL [mean (-12.7%)]; distance from gill opening to dorsal pectoral fin base 4.3-9.6% HL (mean 6.9%) (Ref. 81678).
Maximum reported total length 388 mm (Ref. 81678).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Vreven, E.J. and G.G. Teugels, 1996. Description of a new mastacembelid species (Synbranchiformes; Mastacembelidae) from the Zaïre River basin in Africa. Copeia 1996(1):130-139. (Ref. 28147)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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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): 3.8 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (30 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 258 [126, 651] mg/100g; Iron = 2.23 [0.95, 4.84] mg/100g; Protein = 16.9 [15.1, 18.7] %; Omega3 = 0.268 [0.105, 0.667] g/100g; Selenium = 27.1 [7.0, 105.0] μg/100g; VitaminA = 72.1 [23.9, 221.8] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.75 [0.91, 3.65] mg/100g (wet weight);
