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Anabantiformes (Gouramies, snakeheads) >
Anabantidae (Climbing gouramies)
Etymology: Ctenopoma: Greek, kteis, ktenos = comb + Greek, poma, -atos = cover (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 24°C - 27°C (Ref. 2060)
Africa: Chiloango and Kouilou basins in Angola (Cabinda Province) and Republic of Congo; also in the Ngongo-Noumbi rivers area in Republic of Congo (Ref. 81650). Common throughout most of the Congo River basin (Ref. 1880, 41585, 41591, 45441, 81650, 93897, 106245, 106290). Report from the Ogowe River (Ref. 1880) unconfirmed (Ref. 81650). Widely transported by the aquarium fish trade.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 15.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 81650)
Dorsal spines (total): 17 - 21; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 13; Anal spines: 8 - 10; Anal soft rays: 9 - 13; Vertebrae: 30 - 31. Diagnosis: dorsal fin with 18-20 spines (17, 21 rare) and 10-12 (9, 13 rare) soft rays; anal fin with 8-9 spines (10 rare) and 10-12 (9, 13 rare) soft rays; 12-15 (mode 14) pectoral fin rays; dorsal profile rounded; snout blunt; body fusiform; pelvic fin clear; frequently an oblong brown bar on caudal peduncle; overall pigmentation usually grey (Ref. 81650).
Obligate air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Oviparous (Ref. 205). Maximum total length reported 17.0 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
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [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): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).