| Family: |
Butidae (Gudgeon gobies) |
| Max. size: |
4.58 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater, |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Guinea (Ref. 57413, 81660) to Congo (Ref. 81660) and Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 57413), including the Dja (middle Congo River basin) in Cameroon (Ref. 51193) and Itimbiri in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 106290). In Lower Guinea absent south of the Ogowe (Ref. 81660). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 6-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-10; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 6-9. Diagnosis: predorsal scales sometimes present (at most 15); 32-37 (usually not more than 35) scales in longitudinal series (including scales on caudal fin base); 11-15 (usually not more than 13) scales in rearward transverse series; 15-16 pectoral-fin rays (Ref. 57413, 81660).
Description: head naked on sides, or with a few cycloid scales on operculum; predorsal scales present or absent (at most, 15 cycloid scales in a narrow series extending anteriorly to level of preoperculum); ctenoid scales on flanks; abdomen fully scaled; 1st dorsal fin: VI (rarely V); 2nd dorsal fin: I,7-10 (usually 8 or 9); anal fin: I,6-9 (usually 6 or 7); pectoral fins: 15-16; caudal fin rounded with 14-15 segmented rays, 11-13 of which are branched; 5-6 prearticular neuromast rows on ventral part of head, running transversely from lower jaw towards gular region (Ref. 57413, 81660).
Coloration: Preserved specimens: head light to dark brown, sometimes marbled with brown spots over suborbital region and operculum; posterodorsal part of operculum sometimes with white patch near pectoral-fin base; body light brown with 4-7 vertical or oblique dark bars and a dark vertical bar at base of caudal fin; 1st dorsal fin more or less pigmented, sometimes very dark, or may have 1-2 dark bands; 2nd dorsal and anal fins usually marbled, with 2-3 dark longitudinal bands, both fins with a transparent distal margin; caudal fin with 2-4 vertical bands of spots; pectorals and pelvics lighter than other fins, pectorals sometimes with a dark spot adjacent to outer (dorsal) rays and a small dark spot near inner (ventral) rays (Ref. 57413, 81660). |
| Biology: |
Maximum reported total length 5.7 cm (Ref. 57413). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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