Micralestes acutidens (Peters, 1852)

Sharptooth tetra

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Characiformes \| Alestidae
Synonyms	Alestes acutidens, Brachyalestes acutidens, Micralestes brevianalis, ... more
Common names	Silver robber, Pedi, Spidstandet tetra, ... more

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Image of Micralestes acutidens (Sharptooth tetra)

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Main reference

Teugels, G.G., C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and K. Traoré. 1988. (Ref. 272)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 9.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4967); max. published weight: 2.0 g (Ref. 3799); max. reported age: 3 years (Ref. 7248)

Environment

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

Climate / Range

Tropical; 22°C - 26°C (Ref. 1672)

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

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 14 - 16. Body height 3-3.5 times in standard length (Ref. 42032). Head length 3.6-4.2 times in standard length (Ref. 42032). Cuspid number: external row of upper jaw 3-5, internal row of upper jaw 7-12, external row of lower jaw 9-11, internal row of lower jaw 2-4 (Ref. 42032). Black mediolateral band starting behind operculum quickly enlarges and continues to the origin of the caudal (Ref. 42032). Fins greyish, with dorsal fin generally blackish at its extremity (Ref. 42032).

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).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Not Evaluated	Harmless

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


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

Tools
Biogeographic modelling \| Bio-Quiz \| E-book \| Field guide \| Identification keys \| Length-frequency wizard \| Life-history tool \| LifeMapper \| Point map

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Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

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


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Low vulnerability (23 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Binohlan, Crispina B.

Modified by Torres, Armi G.

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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