Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 10608); depth range 27 - 45 m (Ref. 9606). Tropical
Africa: Victoria Nile (Ref. 1880), Lake Kyoga (Ref. 4903), Lake Victoria basin (Ref. 34290), Middle Akagera River system (Ref. 46152), Malagarazi River (Ref. 54847, 98755), Lake Tanganyika (Ref. 45485).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 10 - ? cm
Max length : 36.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 52331)
In Lake Kyoga abundant among or near water lilies (Ref. 49805) and in Lake Victoria it occurs in shallow, inshore waters over sandy and rocky shores (Ref. 4903, 97924), seasonally over muddy bottoms adjacent to papyrus swamps or deep water near rocky islands (Ref. 9606, 97924). Feeds on bottom and in marginal vegetation; insectivorous (chironomid larvae, Povilla, Odonata larvae), but arthropods, oligochaetes and fish eggs are also eaten (Ref. 12526). Uses sensitive pointed addition to chin for testing holes in mud, papyrus roots and between stones to locate underwater insects (Ref. 36900). Rotates body to almost vertical position, searches substrate and grabs prey into mouth; produces weak electric organ discharge for navigation and to warn off other organisms (Ref. 97924). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Breeds twice a year during the rainy seasons, and migrates up rivers to spawn (Ref. 10608).
Gosse, J.-P., 1984. Mormyridae. p. 63-122. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ORSTOM, Paris and MRAC, Tervuren. Vol. 1. (Ref. 3203)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5625 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01288 (0.00598 - 0.02775), b=2.86 (2.68 - 3.04), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.3 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec = 502).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (26 of 100).
