Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anabantiformes (Gouramies, snakeheads) >
Anabantidae (Climbing gouramies)
Etymology: Microctenopoma: Greek, mikros = small + Greek, kteis, ktenos = comb + Greek, poma = cover, operculum (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 7.2; dH range: ? - 15. Tropical; 18°C - 24°C (Ref. 1672)
Africa: widely distributed in the Congo River basin in Central African Republic, Republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 39599). Also widespread in Lower Guinea, from the Sanaga in Cameroon (Ref. 51193, 81650) south to the Chiloango (Ref. 81650, 120641). Reports from the Congo and Zambezi basins in Angola (Ref. 11970) belong to other species (Ref. 39599 and Norris unpubl.).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 81650)
Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 11; Anal spines: 6 - 10; Anal soft rays: 7 - 11; Vertebrae: 26 - 28. Diagnosis: interorbital space narrow, 3.3-4.5 times in head length; 13-18 dorsal and 6-10 anal fin spines; flanks with even and distinct bars at all sizes; in adults, subopercle usually serrated and caudal fin squared; caudal peduncle developed; breeding males never marked with
orange (Ref. 81650).
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Maximum total length reported 8.0 cm (Ref. 6803).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Gosse, J.-P., 1986. Anabantidae. p. 402-414. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 6803)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5002 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01820 (0.00772 - 0.04289), b=2.98 (2.78 - 3.18), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
