Lake Tanganyika sardine (Limnothrissa miodon) fish species and information / pictures of Lake Tanganyika sardine - Limnothrissa miodon

Lake Tanganyika sardine (Limnothrissa miodon) fish species information

Scientific Name
Limnothrissa miodon

Common Name
Lake Tanganyika sardine

Biology
Near shore and in bays. Very common, has been successfully introduced to Lakes Kava, Kariba and Carbora Bass (Ref. 4967). A lacustrine species, preferring open water (Ref. 13337). Forms large schools. Mainly nocturnal and feeds on plankton (especially atyid shrimps, also copepods, prawns), but larger individuals take larval Stolothrissa. Cannibalism does occur (Ref. 13337). Breeds close to shore throughout the rainy seasons, but with peaks in May to June and December to January. Fire is used to attract the fish and caught by means of scoop nets (Ref. 36900).

Classification

Classified By

Boulenger, 1906

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Herrings (Clupeiformes)

Family

Herrings, shads and sardines (Clupeidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: endemic to Lake Tanganyika (Ref. 28136), but introduced into several other lakes (Lake Kivu, Lake Kariba, and Cabora Bassa reservoir) (Ref. 188, 28136).

Range

3°S - 18°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

21 °C

Water Temperature To

29 °C

Depth From - meters

20 m

Depth To - meters

40 m

Zone

pelagic

Environment

Freshwater; pelagic; non-migratory; depth range 20 - 40 m (Ref. 27631)

Trophic Level

3.03 s.e. 0.15 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

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

17.0 cm

Common Length

10.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; bait: usually

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (10 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.86-1.2)

Threat To Humans

Potential pest (Ref. 13055)

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)