| Family: |
Citharinidae (Lutefishes) |
| Max. size: |
58 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 7,000.0 g |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater, anadromous |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Gambia, Senegal, Niger, Volta, Ouémé, Chad (Ref. 2938, 7095, 81281) and Nile basins (Ref. 28714). Also known from Lake Turkana (Ref. 2938, 7095) and Lake Albert (Ref. 4903). Previously, 2 subspecies were recognized: Citharinus citharus citharus and Citharinus citharus intermedius. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-21; Anal soft rays: 26-31. Diagnosis: body depth 1.8-2.7x and head length 3.0-4.1x SL; caudal peduncle 0.7-1.4x long than deep; short snout, slightly prominent; snout 0.7-1.6x eye diameter; eye diameter 3.7-6.1x head length; adipose-fin base shorter than distance separating it from rayed dorsal fin (ratio adipose base/distance to rayed dorsal is 0.5-0.8); pectoral fins 0.5-1.1x head length; cycloid scales; scale formula 22.5-25.5/77-92/22.5-25.5; 77-92 scales in longitudinal line; 17.5-20.5 scales between lateral line and pelvic fin; 17-21 dorsal fin branched rays; 26-30 anal fin branched rays (Ref. 2938, 81281).
Description: eye protected by small adipose eyelid (Ref. 2938, 81281).
Coloration: silvery body; pectorals fins and superior lobe of caudal greyish; inferior lobe of caudal fin and anal fin are red; basal part of adipose blackish (Ref. 2938, 81281). |
| Biology: |
Common in large rivers of the Sudan region (Ref. 7095). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 April 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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