Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Procatopodidae (African lampeyes) > Procatopodinae
Etymology: Procatopus: Greek, pro = in front o + Greek, kata = down + Greek pous = feet.
More on author: Ahl.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.5 - 7.2; non-migratory. Tropical; 24°C - 26°C (Ref. 2060)
Africa: Cross River in southwestern Cameroon (Ref. 31267, 57259) and smaller coastal flowing rivers, Niger and Benue Rivers in south-central and southern Nigeria (Ref. 7372, 57259).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27139)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15 - 17. Diagnosis: Larger-sized ‘Lampeye’ species; males usually with an extension at the upper corner of the caudal fin; sometimes with extended rays in the unpaired fins; ventral fins inserted distinctly behind pectorals; dorsal fin with 8-10 rays; anal fin with 15-17 rays; scales on mid-lateral series 27-33 (Ref. 57259).
Colouration: Male colouration: variable in colouration; basic colour light grey to light olive, dorsal area darker, ventral area light to almost white; on the sides strong light blue-green to light blue reflections, not arranged in bands, but covering the entire sides; the unpaired fins may vary from colourless, through pale blue to orange or pink, sometimes provided with red spots; the margins at the unpaired fins are usually red or pink, but sometimes black; a white outer margin may be present in the lower caudal fin; the caudal fin extensions are usually white (Ref. 57259). Female colouration: pale, semi-transparent grey or olive; some pale silvery reflections may be present on the sides; the fins are all colourless (Ref. 57259). Both sexes show an orange reflective spot in the upper part of the eye iris (Ref. 57259).
Found in small rivers and brooks under forest cover and in the forested savannah on soils of basal origin; usually
swimming in schools in the streaming parts of the creeks (Ref. 57259). Not a seasonal killifish. Is very difficult to maintain in aquarium (Ref. 27139).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Huber, J.H., 1996. Killi-Data 1996. Updated checklist of taxonomic names, collecting localities and bibliographic references of oviparous Cyprinodont fishes (Atherinomorpha, Pisces). Société Française d'Ichtyologie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, 399 p. (Ref. 27139)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [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): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
