Enteromius melanotaenia (Stiassny, 1991)
Enteromius melanotaenia
photo by Stiassny, M.L.J.

Family:  Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Smiliogastrinae
Max. size:  3.89 cm SL (female)
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: only known from its type locality: River Via, St. Paul's river basin, Liberia (Ref. 43268, 81282).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Diagnosis: last simple dorsal-fin ray smooth on hind margin; scale formula 3.5/22-25/3.5; 2.5 scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin base; 9 scales around caudal peduncle; 8 branched dorsal fin rays; two pairs of barbels; anterior barbel not reaching to anterior margin of eye/not extending beyond centre of eye; posterior barbel extending beyond hind margin of eye; lateral line complete and more or less horizontal to weakly depressed below dorsal fin; maximum reported size 39 mm SL; no black spot on dorsal fin; wide, black lateral band on sides from snout to base of caudal peduncle (Ref. 43268, 81282). Description: moderately robust, short-bodied species; predorsal profile smoothly rounded to origin of 1st spinous dorsal ray; snout short and blunt; mouth small and subterminal; cephalic pits poorly developed and barely visible on cheek and head surface; eyes relatively large; pectoral fins large and broad, and usually overlap origin of large pelvic fins; posterior dorsal-fin margin straight to slightly falcate; anal fin relatively long; caudal fin strongly forked with pointed lobes; body covered with large regularly imbricate cycloid scales; striations on scale are few in number and diverge from central focus of each scale (Ref. 43268). Mouth’s angle situated below anterior margin of eye; D: IV,8; A: III,5; P: I,14; V: I,7 (Ref. 81282). Coloration: broad, jet black ribbonlike band extends from behind operculum to base of caudal peduncle; dorsal body surface darkly pigmented (Ref. 43268, 81282). Belly pale (Ref. 43269, 81282) and slightly yellowish (Ref. 43268). All fins are slightly pigmented and dusky grey in color (Ref. 43268).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 15 January 2020 (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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