Teleostei (teleosts) >
Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues) >
Mormyridae (Elephantfishes)
Etymology: Petrocephalus: Latin, petra = stone + Greek, kephale = head (Ref. 45335); valentini: This species is named in honor of Mr. Valentin Mbossi, 'pinassier extraordinaire' at Odzala National Park; his first name is used to reflect appreciation for him and to avoid confusion with a similarly named species, Petrocephalus mbossou (Ref. 85331).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: Likouala River (middle Congo River basin) in Republic of Congo (Ref. 85331). Also reported from "Lower Congo River in the vicinity of the Pool Malebo" (Ref. 85331).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 85331)
Diagnosis: Petrocephalus valentini is distinguished from all other Petrocephalus species in Central Africa by the following combination of characteristics: dorsal fin with 19-24 branched rays; anal fin with 24-26 branched rays; eye large, the ratio head length and eye-diameter between 2.9 and 3.2; mouth very small, the ratio head length and mouth width between 4.7 and 5.8; 12 teeth or fewer in the upper jaw; and 17 teeth or fewer in the lower jaw (Ref. 85331). Pigmentation pattern subtle, including two components: (1) a pale dorsal black mark on each side of the body below the anterior base of the dorsal fin, under the second to sixth dorsal rays; (2) an ovoid mark, sometimes scarcely visible, at the base of the caudal fin, extending weakly onto the upper and lower lobes of the fin (Ref. 85331).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Lavoué, S., J.P. Sullivan and M.E. Arnegard, 2010. African weakly electric fishes of the genus Petrocephalus (Osteoglossomorpha: Mormyridae) of Odzala National Park, Republic of the Congo (Lékoli River, Congo River basin) with description of five new species. Zootaxa 2600:1-52. (Ref. 85331)
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=0.01585 (0.00697 - 0.03603), b=2.85 (2.67 - 3.03), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
