Overview
Comprehensive Description
Biology
Solitary, nocturnal species. Feed on benthic animals, with chironomid larvae as a major food item (Ref. 28714). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
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Gosse, J.-P. 1984 Mormyridae. p. 63-122. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ORSTOM, Paris and MRAC, Tervuren. Vol. 1. (Ref. 3203)
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Distribution
Range Description
This species distribution extends from Egypt along the entire length of the Nile, and into Tanzania.
Eastern Africa: It has a widespread distribution in eastern Africa including: the Lake Victoria drainage, Lake Turkana basin, Lake Kamnarok (Kerio system), River Turkwell, Omo delta, Northern Ewaso Nyiro (Seegers et al. 2003), Middle and Lower Akagera, Lakes Edward, George, Albert and Kyoga systems, and the entire Nile system as far as the delta (Victoria, Murchison and Albert Niles). It is also found in Rivers Pangani, Rufiji, and Kagera apart from Lake Burigi and Kirumi pools. In Lake Victoria the EOO has become restricted to the 10m depth contour whereas it previously extend to the 70m (Kudhongania and Cordone 1974). The species was originally distributed throughout Lake Kyoga but is now restricted to the open Lake. In Lakes Edward and George it is now largely restricted to Kasinga Channel and to the northern Papyrus fringed shore of Lake George.
Northern Africa: This species is common all along the River Nile in Egypt.
Northeast Africa: It is found in the Ghazal and Jebel systems, the White Nile and Blue Niles to Lake Nasser (also known as Lake Nubia). It is also present in the Baro River, Ethiopia.
Eastern Africa: It has a widespread distribution in eastern Africa including: the Lake Victoria drainage, Lake Turkana basin, Lake Kamnarok (Kerio system), River Turkwell, Omo delta, Northern Ewaso Nyiro (Seegers et al. 2003), Middle and Lower Akagera, Lakes Edward, George, Albert and Kyoga systems, and the entire Nile system as far as the delta (Victoria, Murchison and Albert Niles). It is also found in Rivers Pangani, Rufiji, and Kagera apart from Lake Burigi and Kirumi pools. In Lake Victoria the EOO has become restricted to the 10m depth contour whereas it previously extend to the 70m (Kudhongania and Cordone 1974). The species was originally distributed throughout Lake Kyoga but is now restricted to the open Lake. In Lakes Edward and George it is now largely restricted to Kasinga Channel and to the northern Papyrus fringed shore of Lake George.
Northern Africa: This species is common all along the River Nile in Egypt.
Northeast Africa: It is found in the Ghazal and Jebel systems, the White Nile and Blue Niles to Lake Nasser (also known as Lake Nubia). It is also present in the Baro River, Ethiopia.
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Africa: Lakes Victoria, Kyoga, Albert, Edward and George; also from the Nile, including the Victoria and Murchison Nile, probably in the Athi River (Kenya).
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Gosse, J.-P. 1984 Mormyridae. p. 63-122. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ORSTOM, Paris and MRAC, Tervuren. Vol. 1. (Ref. 3203)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=3203&speccode=10825
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Physical Description
Morphology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Analspines: 0
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van Oijen, M.J.P. 1995 Appendix I. Key to Lake Victoria fishes other than haplochromine cichlids. p. 209-300. In F. Witte and W.L.T. van Densen (eds.) Fish stocks and fisheries of Lake Victoria. A handbook for field observations. Samara Publishing Limited, Dyfed, Great Britain. (Ref. 34290)
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Size
Max. size
100.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 34290))
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van Oijen, M.J.P. 1995 Appendix I. Key to Lake Victoria fishes other than haplochromine cichlids. p. 209-300. In F. Witte and W.L.T. van Densen (eds.) Fish stocks and fisheries of Lake Victoria. A handbook for field observations. Samara Publishing Limited, Dyfed, Great Britain. (Ref. 34290)
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Diagnostic Description
Dorsal head profile straight or somewhat curved, sloping steeply. Snout produced into a stout trunk whose thickness and angle to the face are variable. Lips thick. Eye small. Dull bronze dorsally, lighter ventrally (Ref. 34290).
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van Oijen, M.J.P. 1995 Appendix I. Key to Lake Victoria fishes other than haplochromine cichlids. p. 209-300. In F. Witte and W.L.T. van Densen (eds.) Fish stocks and fisheries of Lake Victoria. A handbook for field observations. Samara Publishing Limited, Dyfed, Great Britain. (Ref. 34290)
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
Habitat and Ecology
Systems
This is a solitary, nocturnal species (Bailey 1974). It is widespread in both coastal and offshore waters. It feeds on benthic animals, with chironomid larvae as major food item (Bailey 1994). It has a curious habit of swimming backwards. It spends the day on the bottom, but after nightfall it becomes very active, searching for food. Associated with rocks and is commonly caught in rapidly-flowing water. Males outnumber females in the catch. Gonads are mature in spring and summer and only the left ovary or testis is present. Well grown fish can give quite an electrical shock.
Systems
- Freshwater
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Environment
demersal; freshwater; depth range 0 - 70 m (Ref. 34291), usually 0 - 50 m (Ref. 34291)
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Witte, F. and W. de Winter 1995 Appendix II. Biology of the major fish species of Lake Victoria. p. 301-320. In F. Witte and W.L.T. Van Densen (eds.) Fish stocks and fisheries of Lake Victoria. A handbook for field observations. Samara Publishing Limited, Dyfed, Great Britain. (Ref. 34291)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=34291&speccode=6519
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Trophic Strategy
Solitary, nocturnal species. Feeds on benthic animals, with chironomid larvae as a major food item.
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Gosse, J.-P. 1984 Mormyridae. p. 63-122. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ORSTOM, Paris and MRAC, Tervuren. Vol. 1. (Ref. 3203)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=3203&speccode=10825
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Diseases and Parasites
Trypanosoma Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)
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Baker, J.R. 1960 Trypanosomes and dactylosomes from the blood of fresh-water fish in East-Africa. Parasitology 50:515-526. (Ref. 52501)
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Spinitectus Infestation 7. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)
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Khalil, L.F. and J.P. Thurston 1973 Studies on the helminth parasites of freshwater fishes of Uganda including the descriptions of two new species of digeneans. Rev. Zool. Bot. afr. 87(2):209-248. (Ref. 52494)
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
LC
Least Concern
Red List Criteria
Version
3.1
Year Assessed
2010
Assessor/s
Azeroual, A., Bayona, J. & Getahun, A.
Reviewer/s
Snoeks, J., Tweddle, D., Getahun, A., Lalèyè, P., Paugy, D., Zaiss, R., Fishar, M.R.A & Brooks, E.
Contributor/s
Justification
This species has a wide distribution, with no known major widespread threats. It is therefore listed as Least Concern. It has also been assessed regionally as Least Concern for eastern and north eastern Africa, as it is locally threatened in Lake Victoria but not elsewhere. In northern Africa, it is assessed as Vulnerable.
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Trends
Population
Population
Population Trend
This species is common in commercial fisheries. Surveys of 1977-1999 in Uganda and Tanzania indicated a decline in abundance in research survey catches from 0.3 kg/hr during 1969-71 (Kudhongania and Cordone 1974) to 0.01kg/hr in 1999 (Okaranon et al. 1999). The species has a large extent of occurrence nationally but is now rarely encountered in Lakes Victoria and Kyoga.
Population Trend
Decreasing
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Threats
Threats
Major Threats
This species faces a number of threats. In northern Africa, dams, water pollution (agriculture, domestic and commercial/industrial), groundwater extraction and drought pose possible threats. In eastern Africa, threats include predation pressure by the Nile Perch, heavy fishing pressure and collection for the aquarium trade, pollution of its waterways, and competition with introduced species in Lakes Victoria and Kyoga.
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Least Concern (LC)
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IUCN 2006 2006 IUCN red list of threatened species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded July 2006.
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=57073
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Management
Conservation Actions
Conservation Actions
No information available. More research is needed into this species population numbers and range, biology and ecology, habitat status and threats, as well as monitoring and potential conservation measures.
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Importance
fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea and W.B. Scott 1991 World fishes important to North Americans. Exclusive of species from the continental waters of the United States and Canada. Am. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. (21):243 p. (Ref. 4537)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=4537&speccode=1255
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Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl 1991 Aquarien atlas. Bd. 3. Melle: Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde, Germany. 1104 p. (Ref. 2059)
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