Neolebias kerguennae Daget, 1980

Family:  Distichodontidae (Distichodus)
Max. size:  2.7 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: Lower Guinea endemic, only known from the coastal rivers of Gabon (Ref. 81638).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 9-11. Diagnosis: laterosensory canal on lateral surface of head limited to arch of pores around ventral and posterior margins of orbit and associated with preopercle; 6th infraorbital (dermosphenotic) present, but without laterosensory canal segment; infraorbital absent at posterior margin of orbit; maxilla with 4 or fewer teeth; scaly process absent at base of pelvic fin; dark pigmentation along lateral surface of body 2 scales wide or less; base of caudal fin unpigmented or with rounded spot that falls distinctly short of dorsal and ventral margins of caudal peduncle (Ref. 81638). Description: body moderately elongate, depth 0.25-0.27x SL; head profile moderately acute anteriorly; premaxilla and dentary with 2 rows of teeth; teeth of outer row of upper and lower jaws bicuspid, inner rows conical; maxilla with 5 teeth along anterodorsal margin; laterosensory canal system of head not elaborated; scales ctenoid and of moderate size; lateral line incomplete with pores on anterior 4-6 scales; 10 scales between dorsal-fin origin and mid-ventral line (excluding median scales); D: III,9-10; A: II,7-9 (Ref. 81638). Coloration: ground color tan to brown; irregular patch of dark pigmentation extending along mid-lateral surface of head to rear of opercle; ventral region of head with scattered dark chromatophores; mid-lateral surface of body with wide dark band commencing at rear of supraleithrum and running to rear of caudal peduncle; scattered, small, dark spots on lateral and ventrolateral surface of body below mid-lateral band; caudal fin with dark, vertically elongate basal spot continuous posteriorly with mid-lateral band on body; live specimens with dark mid-lateral band overlain by blueish green highlights; base of lobes of caudal fin and basal portions of anal, dorsal and pelvic fins varyingly red; distal portions of anal and pelvic fins white (Ref. 81638).
Biology:  Maximum TL was recorded at 3.3 cm (Ref. 7094).
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 (B2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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