Teleostei (teleosts) >
Clupeiformes (Herrings) >
Denticipitidae (Denticle herrings)
Etymology: Denticeps: Latin, dens, dentis = teeth +Latin, ceps = head (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic. Tropical; 20°C - 25°C (Ref. 13614); 7°N - 4°N, 2°E - 9°E
Africa: in West Africa from Ouémé River basin to Niger Delta (Ref. 81268), Cross River (Ref. 85170) and Mungo River in Cameroon (Ref. 81632).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 15.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 81268)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 9; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 23 - 27; Vertebrae: 39 - 41. Diagnosis: Denticeps clupeoides is closely related to the Clupeidae, characterised by the presence of midventral scutes; it is distinguished from all clupeids by the presence of numerous small denticles on the surface of the dermal head bones (odontodes) and a complete lateral line along the entire length of the sides (Ref. 2848, 81268, 81632, 117233). Unlike the majority of African freshwater clupeids, Denticeps clupeoides lacks a supramaxilla (Ref. 2848, 81268).
Found in streams with water of low ionic content; it always occurs in shoals that tend to keep to the middle of the stream, where the current is at its strongest (Ref. 81632, 101724). It is a skilled and untiring swimmer, extremely fast and hence not easily caught (Ref. 81632, 101724). Peak spawning period in Cross River occurs from July to August (Ref. 85170).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Teugels, G.G., 2003. Denticipitidae. p. 122-124. In D. Paugy, C. Lévêque and G.G Teugels (eds.) The fresh and brackish water fishes of West Africa Volume 1. Coll. faune et flore tropicales 40. Institut de recherche de développement, Paris, France, Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris, France and Musée royal de l'Afrique Central, Tervuren, Belgium, 457p. (Ref. 81268)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01122 (0.00514 - 0.02450), b=3.04 (2.87 - 3.21), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec < 1,000).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
