Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps) > Smiliogastrinae
Etymology: Enteromius: Greek, enteron = intestine + Greek, myo, mys = muscle (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Peters.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.8 - 7.8; dH range: 5 - 25. Tropical; 19°C - 28°C (Ref. 13614); 10°S - 32°S
Africa: ranges from Ethiopia in the north, through East and Central Africa, extending westwards into Angola and reaching the southern-most limits of its distribution in Vungu, KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa (Ref. 2801, 52193). In the Congo basin known from Lake Mweru, Luapula, upper Lualaba, Lufira (Ref. 41590) and upper Lulua (Ref. 42554).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 5 - ? cm
Max length : 15.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 52193)
Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 8; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10. Diagnosis: Last unbranched ray of dorsal fin thorny, long and with posterior denticulation; barbels not well developed, anterior barbel very short, just reaching the posterior side of the maxilla, posterior barbel just reaching the middle of the eye (Ref. 27628). Dorsal side brown-silver coloured, ventral side silver, with a darker band on the flanks; fins not coloured (Ref. 27628).
Hardy, prefers quiet, well-vegetated waters in lakes, swamps, and marshes or marginal areas of larger rivers and slow-flowing streams (Ref. 7248, 52193). In shallow, inshore areas of Lake Victoria especially where bottom is sandy (Ref. 4903). Bottom feeder (Ref. 12526), it feeds on a wide variety of small organisms including insects, small snails and crustaceans, algae, diatoms, and detritus (Ref. 7248, 52193). Eaten by large predators like the sharptooth catfish, tigerfish, largemouth breams (Serranochromis species) and birds (Ref. 7248, 52193). Spawns amongst vegetation during summer (Ref. 7248, 52193), in river and streams during rainy season in Lake Victoria basin (Ref. 4903).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Skelton, P.H., 2001. A complete guide to the freshwater fishes of southern Africa. Cape Town (South Africa): Struik Publishers, 395 p. (Ref. 52193)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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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=0.01259 (0.00763 - 0.02078), b=2.97 (2.83 - 3.11), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.9 ±0.33 se; based on food items.
Generation time: 0.8 ( na - na) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 1
growth studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=1.40; tm=1; Fec=255; assuming multiple spawning per year).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 391 [232, 744] mg/100g; Iron = 2.67 [1.66, 4.28] mg/100g; Protein = 17.4 [16.5, 18.3] %; Omega3 = 0.649 [0.249, 1.696] g/100g; Selenium = 98.5 [38.1, 260.6] μg/100g; VitaminA = 51.9 [22.0, 122.3] μg/100g; Zinc = 2.7 [1.9, 3.9] mg/100g (wet weight);
