Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Characiformes (Characins) >
Distichodontidae (Distichodus)
Etymology: Distichodus: Greek, di = two + Greek, stix, stichos = line, row (Ref. 45335); microps: The specific epithet is a combination of the Greek "micro" and "ops" and refers to the small eye relative to the snout and head length (Ref. 127217).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: Mbia River drainage in Equatorial Guinea (Ref. 127217).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 127217)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 17; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 13. Diagnosis: Distichodus microps is readily distinguished from the larger-bodied, higher-scale count Distichodus species (D. antonii, D. atroventralis, D. fasciolatus, D. lusosso, D. mossambicus, D. sexfasciatus, D. langi, D. rostratus, D. engycephalus, D. kasaiensis, D. ingae, D. polli, D. petersii, D. nefasch, D. brevipinnis and D. schenga) in having fewer lateral line scales, 40-41 vs. more than 60, and in achieving a smaller maximum standard length, less than 15 cm vs. more than 30 cm (Ref. 127217). This species is also distinguished from the smaller-bodied, lower-scale count Distichodus species in the following ways: Distichodus microps is distinguished from D. decemmaculatus and D. teugelsi in having two rows of teeth on the lower jaw vs. one; it can be readily distinguished from D. noboli, D. hypostomatus and D. maculatus in having fewer scales along the lateral line, 40-41 vs. 45, 53-60 and 75 respectively; and distinguished from D. rufigiensis in not having prominent vertical bars along the sides (Ref. 127217). Distichodus microps is distinguished from D. kolleri and D. altus in having fewer dorsal-fin rays, 15-17 total rays vs. 21-26 and 17-18 respectively, and further distinguished from D. altus and D. affinis in having fewer total anal-fin rays, 12-13 vs. 21-22; it is distinguished from D. notospilus in having more scales along the lateral line, 41, rarely 40, vs. 37-39, rarely 40, a nearly inferior mouth vs. subterminal in D. notospilus, a curved posterolateral margin of the opercle vs. straight in D. notospilus, a smaller eye, 56.7-80.4% of snout length vs. 70.1-104.3%, and a less prominent elongated spot at the base of the caudal fin; it is distinguished from D. mbiniensis in having a shallower body, usually six scales from lateral line to the pelvic fin vs. 7, 34.1-38.7% of standard length vs. 33.6-42.4%, fewer anal-fin rays, usually 12 total rays vs. 13-14, a longer anal fin, 15.0-17.8% of standard length vs. 13.4-17.3%, a more inferior mouth vs. the subterminal mouth in D. mbiniensis, a deeper, 12.4-14.2% of standard length vs. 11.8-13.0%, and a longer caudal peduncle , 11.9-14.8% of standard length vs. 9.7-12.6%, a smaller eye, 56.7-80.4% of snout length vs. 58.6-88.0%, a more narrow and elongate subopercle, and a deeper infraorbital 1 with a more rectangular anterolateral margin vs. a more shallow infraorbital 1 with a curved anterolateral margin in D. mbiniensis (Ref. 127217).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Schmidt, R.C., E.C. Knobloch and C. Barrientos, 2021. Cast netting new species: integrative taxonomy of Distichodus notospilus (Characiformes: Distichodontidae) discovers new species and overlooked areas of endemism in Central Africa. Zootaxa 4952(2):291-313. (Ref. 127217)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = No PD50 data [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01479 (0.00616 - 0.03550), b=3.05 (2.86 - 3.24), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
