Teleostei (teleosts) >
Ovalentaria/misc (Various families in series Ovalentaria) >
Polycentridae (Leaffishes)
Etymology: Polycentropsis: Greek, poly = a lot of + Greek, kentron = sting + Greek, opsis = appearance (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 6.5; dH range: 10 - ?. Tropical; 26°C - 30°C (Ref. 2059)
Africa: in West Africa from the eastern side of the Ouémé (Benin) to the Cross River (Nigeria), including the lower course and delta of the Niger River (Ref. 57397). Also found in coastal parts of the rivers Meme, Wouri, Sanaga and Lokoundje in Cameroon and in the Komo and Ogowe basins in Gabon (Ref. 81649).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 81649)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Anal spines: 9 - 12; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9; Vertebrae: 23. Diagnosis: 6-7 scale rows on cheeks; lateral line incomplete; caudal peduncle very short; caudal fin truncate (Ref. 57397). Usually a pored lateral line is lacking, but if present, only 4-6 scales of dorsally curving series pored; 16 principal caudal rays with 1 procurrent ray on each lobe; 1st pelvic ray with anterior and posterior branches projecting a little beyond fin membrane; caudal peduncle conspicuously short; 10 abdominal and 13 caudal vertebrae; 3 predorsal bones (supraneurals) in front of 1st dorsal pterygiophore (Ref. 81649).
Coloration: dull brown; head and sides with irregular dark brown/black spots sometimes forming a marbled pattern (Ref. 57397; 81649). Dark band from anterior base of dorsal fin through eye to snout tip; second dark band from ventrocaudal margin of eye ventrocaudally over cheek to ventral side of body anterior to pelvic fin base; distal parts of soft dorsal and anal fin, caudal and pectoral fins transparent; pelvics and spinous part and base of soft dorsal and anal fins brown (Ref. 81649). Fins seeming rayless when viewed form certain angles (Ref. 57397).
Occurs in rainforest areas (Ref. 6801). Maximum reported TL was 8.0 cm (Ref. 6801).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Teugels, G.G., 2003. Nandidae. p. 516-519 In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douce et saumâtres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, Tome 2. Coll. Faune et Flore tropicales 40. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgique, Museum National d'Histoire Naturalle, Paris, France and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris, France. 815 p. (Ref. 57397)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.0020 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02042 (0.00788 - 0.05291), b=3.02 (2.79 - 3.25), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.8 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
