Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Synbranchiformes (Spiny eels) >
Mastacembelidae (Spiny eels)
Etymology: Mastacembelus: Greek, mastax, -agos = bite + Greek, emballo = to throw oneself (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Anton (sometimes Antoine) Greshoff (1856–1905) was a Dutch trader who arrived in the Congo (1877) and was there for more than 20 years, running the company’s business at Boma. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
Africa: Lower Congo River (Ref. 84205), Pool Malebo (Ref. 41585), middle Congo River (Ref. 41591), Lukenie basin (Ref. 127185) and Lake Tumba (Ref. 41580) in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 33.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 84205)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Occurs over rocky bottoms in rivers and lakes, also in rapids (Ref. 6060).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Travers, R.A., G. Eynikel and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde, 1986. Mastacembelidae. p. 415-427. 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. 6060)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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