Sharptooth tetra (Micralestes acutidens) fish species and information / pictures of Sharptooth tetra - Micralestes acutidens

Sharptooth tetra (Micralestes acutidens) fish species information

Scientific Name
Micralestes acutidens

Common Name
Sharptooth tetra

Biology
Shoals in clear, flowing or standing, open water. Appears to co-exist with the tigerfish Hydrocynus forskalii in open water although it is heavily preyed upon by that predator, particularly those shoals of tigerfish ranging up to 45 cm in length (Ref. 13337). Omnivorous, often feeding from surface waters on winged insects. Also takes insect larvae, crustaceans and eggs and fry of other fish (Ref. 13337). Mature after a year. A partial spawner of moderate fecundity, with usually fewer than 700 eggs per female. Shoals migrate upstream after first summer rains; breeds throughout the summer months. Used as forage fish and as bait for tigerfish and pike (Ref. 7248).

Classification

Classified By

Peters, 1852

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Characins (Characiformes)

Family

African tetras (Alestidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: Nile, Niger, Chad, Congo, Zambezi, Limpopo, Omo, Ubanghi, Lake Kariba, Kafue, Benin, Rovuma, Transvaal, Cameroon, Lake Upemba, Lualaba, Uel?, Benue. Also known from the Cunene and Okavango systems (Ref. 7248). Also found in Lake Volta, Ghana (Ref. 3036) and Lake Kariba (Ref. 27602).

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

22 °C

Water Temperature To

26 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

pelagic

Environment

Freshwater; ; pH range: 6.2 - 8.0; dH range: ? - 25 pelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243)

Trophic Level

2.88 s.e. 0.33 Based on food items.

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

9.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial; bait: usually

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (23 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.63; tmax=3)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)