Teleostei (teleosts) >
Characiformes (Characins) >
Alestidae (African tetras)
Etymology: Micralestes: Greek, mikros = small + Greek,lestes = thief (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Poll.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic. Tropical
Africa: middle Congo River and Lualaba River in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 42032), and Mweru-Luapula and Bangweulu-Chambeshi areas (upper Congo River basin) in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 42032) and Zambia (Ref. 95585).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 9.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 42112)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 15 - 17. Body height 3.5-3.95 times in standard length (Ref. 42032). Head length 3.75-4.1 times in standard length (Ref. 42032). Cuspid number: on external row of upper jaw 4-5, on internal row of upper jaw 6-7, on external row of lower jaw 4-8, on internal row of lower jaw 1 (Ref. 42032). Black mediolateral band starting behind operculum, quickly enlarging towards the back and ending at the origin of the caudal fin (Ref. 42032). Mediolateral band silvery in live specimens (Ref. 42032). Base of flank scales often blackish, especially the scales of the lateral line (Ref. 42032). Fins without black spot, sometimes greyish (Ref. 42032).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Paugy, D., 1984. Characidae. p. 140-183. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ORSTOM, Paris and MRAC, Tervuren. Vol. 1. (Ref. 5331)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
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=0.01148 (0.00528 - 0.02495), b=3.00 (2.82 - 3.18), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.4 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).