Brycinus taeniurus (Günther, 1867)

Family:  Alestidae (African tetras)
Max. size:  9.8 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater,
Distribution:  Africa: reportedly endemic to the Lower Guineawhere it is known from the rivers Ogowe, Ntem and Kribi (Kienke) (Ref. 80290) in Cameroon and Gabon (Ref. 5331, 80290), and from the Kouilou-Niari basin (Ref. 92841). However also reported from the Ngoko (Sangha drainage, middle Congo River basin) in Cameroon (Ref. 42792, 51193).
Diagnosis:  Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 18-20. Diagnosis: fronto-parietal fontanel absent in adults, sometimes pore-like in juveniles; snout short, more than 3x head lenght; dorsal fin origin slightly behind pelvic fin insertion; sexual dimorphism affecting anal fin shape; head length/snout length 3.4-4.3; 25-28 lateral line scales; 4.5 scales between lateral line and dorsal fin; 9.5-10 predorsal scales; 15-17 anal fin branched rays; 24-28 gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch; 8 teeth in outer premaxillary row; humeral spot generally absent but sometimes present; narrow black band on flanks; adults medium-sized (Ref. 80290). Description: no adipose eyelid; gill rakers long, thin and rather numerous; 8 outer premaxillary teeth aligned in a single row; anal fin with 3 branched and 15-17 unbranched rays; (Ref. 80290). Coloration: body with thin band on upper third of scales originating at vertical through pelvic fin origin and extending to caudal fin base; black precaudal blotch extending unto median rays of caudal fin to margin of caudal fork (Ref. 80290).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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