Smallmouth electric catfish (Malapterurus microstoma) fish species and information / pictures of Smallmouth electric catfish - Malapterurus microstoma

Smallmouth electric catfish (Malapterurus microstoma) fish species information

Scientific Name
Malapterurus microstoma

Common Name
Smallmouth electric catfish

Biology
Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 10 - 13; Vertebrae: 40 - 42. Diagnosis: tooth patches narrow; horizontally based pectoral fins, placed low on the body; snout sharply narrowed rostrally; 40-42 vertebrae; 7-29 gill-rakers; 11-12 anal-fin rays; caudal saddle and bar pattern very faintly expressed; 7-8 branched caudal-fin rays; body finely spotted; lateral line complete.

Classification

Classified By

Poll & Gosse, 1969

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Electric catfishes (Malapteruridae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: present throughout the Congo River basin , absent from the lowland, central portion of the basin.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

23 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; benthopelagic

Trophic Level

3.47 s.e. 0.43 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

55.5 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: ; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (46 of 100)

Resilience

Unknown

Threat To Humans

Other

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)