African bonytongue (Heterotis niloticus) fish species and information / pictures of African bonytongue - Heterotis niloticus

African bonytongue (Heterotis niloticus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Heterotis niloticus

Common Name
African bonytongue

Biology
Maximum observed length in Lake Kainji: 100 cm, observed weight: 10000 g. Young found in swampy places among aquatic vegetation ; adults live in the open water of rivers and lakes, where they can be found in the pelagic zone as well as the littoral zone. Are able to survive in deoxygenated waters; the hardiness of this fish, together with its great growth rate make it a candidate for aquaculture in Africa and it has been transported to a number of countries for this purpose. Escapees from ponds into the wild resulted in established populations, which form the basis for fisheries. Are considered as mud-feeders , but in West Africa also as phytoplankton feeders. Feed mostly on plankton, being the only plankton-feeders of the Osteog

Classification

Classified By

Cuvier, 1829

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Bony tongues (Osteoglossiformes)

Family

Bonytongues (Arapaimidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: Native in all the basins of the Sahelo-Sudanese region, the Senegal, Gambia, Corubal, Volta, Ou?m?, Niger, B?noue, Chad and Nile basins and Lake Turkana. Successful introductions in the storage reservoirs of C?te d'Ivoire, the Cross, Sanaga, Nyong and Ogowe rivers and lower and Middle Congo basin, including Ubangui and Kasa?. Also introduced in Madagascar. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.

Range

18°N - 22°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

25 °C

Water Temperature To

30 °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

pelagic

Environment

Freshwater; pelagic; depth range 1 - ? m

Trophic Level

2.55 s.e. 0.26 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

100.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.2500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (55 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.22-0.4; Fec > 1,000)

Threat To Humans

Potential pest (Ref. 40814)

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)