Teleostei (teleosts) >
Characiformes (Characins) >
Alestidae (African tetras)
Etymology: Brycinus: Greek, ebrykon, brykomai = to bite, to gnaw (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Tropical; 22°C - 27°C (Ref. 12468)
Africa: basins of the Volta, Niger (Bénoué), Senegal, Gambia, Tominé (Corubal) and Casamance (Ref. 2880, 81279). Also reported from the Mono (Ref. 28663) and Géba (Ref. 13331) Rivers, and from the Niger delta (Ref. 88941).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 6.5 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 13.3 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 126422); max. published weight: 30.00 g (Ref. 126422)
Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 16 - 20. Diagnosis: parietal fontanel always present, also in adults, open; equal sized jaws; 5.5 scales above lateral line; 26-31 lateral line scales; 13-17 anal fin branched rays; 6/8 premaxillary teeth; 13-17 gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch; gill rakers short (Ref. 2880, 81279).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Affinities: B. nurse, B. longipinnis and B. luteus.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Paugy, D., 1990. Characidae. p. 195-236. In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douces et saumâtres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. Tome I. Coll. Faune Tropicale n° XXVIII. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren et O.R.S.T.O.M., Paris, 384 p. (Ref. 2880)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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