Morphology Data of Distichodus antonii
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Moelants, T., V. Mbadu Zebe, J. Snoeks and E. Vreven, 2014
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral short and / or deep
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth terminal
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: Within the Congo basin, Distichodus antonii can be distinguished from D. affinis, D. altus, D. decemmaculatus, D. noboli, D. notospilus and D. teugelsi by its higher total number of lateral line scales, 52-64 vs. less than 46 in the other species; and from D. maculatus by the absence of large, dark spots all over the body, 9-14 vertical dark bars instead, and a higher number of dorsal fin rays, 21-25 vs. 19-21 (Ref. 96324). Distichodus antonii can be separated from all remaining Congo species by its terminal, vs. inferior, mouth, with the exception of D. lusosso (which has a distinctive elongate snout and only 6 to 8 vertical, dark bars), and by its lower number of scales between the lateral line and the dorsal fin, 10-12 vs. 13-17 (Ref. 96324).

Description: Body relatively deep; dorsal head profile straight, dorsal body outline concave from posterior to head to end of dorsal fin, straight from end of dorsal to adipose fin, and convex from adipose to caudal fin; ventral head profile straight, concave from posterior to head to end of anal fin, and convex from end of anal to caudal fin (Ref. 96324). Head broad with nasal openings widely set apart, 10.1-26.5% of head length, and head relatively shallow, 35.2-67.2% of head length, although these characteristics are positively allometric; mouth terminal; snout not elongated; posterior edge of maxillary not passing nostrils; two rows of bicuspid teeth in each jaw (Ref. 96324, 122092). Origin of dorsal fin slightly in front of pelvic fin origin along vertical axis; distal margin dorsal fin straight or slightly concave, distal margin of anal fin straight to slightly convex; base and distal end of pelvic fin relatively far from vent; these distances are positive allometric, 21.0-33.6% of standard length and 3.9-18.0% of standard length respectively; pectoral and pelvic fin rays decreasing in length from outer to inner fin margin; adipose fin situated approximately half-way between dorsal and caudal fins; caudal peduncle deeper than long; caudal fin forked with two rounded lobes covered with numerous small scales except for translucent distal area (Ref. 96324).

Colouration: Body in vivo dark brown-olive, belly whitish; dorsal fin scattered with numerous small, dark spots; caudal fin dark brown or blackish; adipose fin with a well-marked black distal margin; pectoral fins uniform pale; pelvic fins uniform pale or with slightly darker fin ray borders; between 9 and 14 more or less distinct vertical dark bars on each flank that disappear with increasing size, starting to fade at 200 mm standard length, disappearing at about 250 mm standard length (Ref. 96324, 122092). Preserved specimens brownish with a lighter belly; the black margin of the adipose fin and vertical bars can be absent because of poor and/or long-term conservation (Ref. 96324).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Distichodus antonii

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 52 - 64
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line 10 - 12
Scale rows below lateral line 10 - 11
Scales around caudal peduncle 20 - 23
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 21 - 25
Adipose fin present

Caudal fin

Attributes forked; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 0 - 0
Soft-rays total 12 - 14

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   16 - 20
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    abdominal  behind origin of D1
Spines     0
Soft-rays   10 - 11
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