| Family: |
Distichodontidae (Distichodus) |
| Max. size: |
50 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 6,350.0 g |
| Environment: |
pelagic; freshwater |
| Distribution: |
Africa: middle and lower Zambezi drainages, Pungwe and Buzi rivers in Mozambique (Ref. 52193, 122090). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): -0; Anal spines: -0. Diagnosis: snout short; mouth inferior; head about 5 times in fork length; juveniles with 12-16 dark vertical bars (Ref. 52193).
Description: scales ctenoid; adipose and caudal fins covered by scales; lateral line straight; body deep, compressed, nape rising steeply, with straight or convex profile; head small, pointed; mouth inferior, with 2 rows of bicuspid teeth; dorsal fin with 4 unbranched and 19-23 branched rays; anal fin with 4 unbranched and 10-12 branched rays (Ref. 52193).
Coloration: adults silvery olive with sooty dorsal, anal and caudal fins; pectorals and pelvics yellowish; juveniles silvery, with 12—16 dark vertical bars (usually obscure) and a prominent dark spot at the base of the caudal fin (Ref. 52193). |
| Biology: |
Favors large rivers, shoaling over both rock and sand; omnivorous, preferring algae and plant matter to snails, shrimps, and small fish; breeds in summer during the rainy period, moving upstream to suitable spawning sites (Ref. 7248, 52193). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 May 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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