Airbreathing shellear (Kneria auriculata) fish species and information / pictures of Airbreathing shellear - Kneria auriculata

Airbreathing shellear (Kneria auriculata) fish species information

Scientific Name
Kneria auriculata

Common Name
Airbreathing shellear

Biology
Shoals occur in pools of small, clear, silt-free, rocky streams. Reported to breathe air and to climb over damp rocks and up the sides of waterfalls during migrations. Scrapes diatoms, algae, and detritus from rock surfaces and also takes small aquatic insects such as mayfly nymphs and midge larvae. Matures after a year. Breeds in spring and summer, larger females bear up to 600 eggs (Ref. 7248). Moves on to flooded grasslands during the rainy season (Ref. 13337).

Classification

Classified By

Pellegrin, 1905

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Milkfish (Gonorynchiformes)

Family

Shellears (Kneriidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: Upland streams of lower Zambezi, Pungwe, Buzi, and Save in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. A relict southern pocket occurs in the Crocodile (Incomati system), Transvaal. Identity of specimens from the Kafue and upper Zambezi requires confirmation. Also known from Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 3565).

Range

17°S - 25°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243)

Trophic Level

2 s.e. 0.00 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

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

7.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5001 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Aquarium: potential

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (10 of 100)

Resilience

Unknown

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)