Malapterurus tanoensis Roberts, 2000

Family:  Malapteruridae (Electric catfishes)
Max. size:  26 cm SL (male/unsexed); 20.4 cm SL (female)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: only found in the rivers Ofin (Prah drainage) and Tano in Ghana (Ref. 34006, 44050, 57130, 78218).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): -0; Dorsal soft rays (total): -0; Anal spines: -0; Anal soft rays: 9-11; Vertebrae: 37-43. Diagnosis: tooth patches broad; pectoral fin placed ventrally; 9-11 anal-fin rays; 19 caudal-fin rays (ii-7-8-ii; rarely i-7-8-ii, total 18); 3-4 gill-rakers on upper part of first arch; dorsum and flank marked by large blotches (up to 5-6 times an eye diameter); caudal saddle and bar pattern well-developed; 20-22 caudal vertebrae (Ref. 44050). 41-43 (Ref. 34006) or 37-39 (Ref. 44050) total vertebrae. Differs from M. minjiriya in having fewer vertebrae and a much narrower head and mouth, and smaller oral tooth bands; differs from M. cavalliensis in having more vertebrae and much smaller tooth bands (Ref. 34006). Description: body and head depressed; jaws roughly even; 16-17 abdominal vertebrae (Ref. 44050, 57130). 20-22 caudal vertebrae; 19 caudal fin rays (usual arrangement ii-7-8-ii, rarely i-7-8-ii)(Ref. 57130). Coloration: bicolored; dorsum and flank marked with relatively few spots, some quite large (5-6 times an eye diameter); paired and anal fins unmarked; caudal fin dark with a pale distal margin and a broad pale basal crescent; caudal bar wedge-shaped, with the acute end projecting into bright pale interspace; saddle solid, dark and wide, extending nearly to anal fin base; adipose fin with dark anterior end (an extension of the saddle) and pale posterior half (an extension of the pale interspace); juveniles pigmented as above, with scattered blotches on flank and dorsum, wide and deep saddle, wedge-shaped caudal bar and wide pale crescent at base of caudal fin; paired fins and anal fin unmarked (Ref. 44050).
Biology:  Female reaches up to 20.4 SL; nothing reported on the biology or natural history of this species (Ref. 44050).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 30 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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