Classification / Names
Nombres comunes | Sinónimos | Catalog of Fishes(Género, Especie) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
>
Synbranchiformes (Spiny eels) >
Mastacembelidae (Spiny eels)
Etymology: Mastacembelus: Greek, mastax, -agos = bite + Greek, emballo = to throw oneself (Ref. 45335); polli: Named in honor of Prof. Dr. Poll, a famous Belgian ichthyologist who pioneered ichthyological studies on Lake Tanganyika (Ref. 56055).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecología
; agua dulce demersal. Tropical
Africa: endemic to and widely distributed in Lake Tanganyika (Ref. 56055).
Tamaño / Peso / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 14.0 cm SL macho / no sexado; (Ref. 56055)
Short description
Claves de identificación | Morfología | Morfometría
Espinas dorsales (total) : 22 - 29; Radios blandos dorsales (total) : 68 - 87; Espinas anales: 2; Radios blandos anales: 70 - 98; Vértebra: 72 - 84. The species has protruding eyes, a small rostral appendage, a protruding lower jaw, a pointed caudal fin and a more elongated pectoral-fin shape (Ref. 56055). Posterior angle of lips is situated below the region from the middle from the eye up to a distance of about one-third of the diameter behind posterior border of eye (Ref. 56055). Upper corner of gill opening and dorsal edge of pectoral-fin base approximately at same level, clearly anterior to ventral edge of pectoral-fin base; dorsal edge of pectoral-fin base situated above upper corner of the gill opening (Ref. 56055). Lateral line continuous from posterior border of head up to one-third or half of distance between head and anus, discontinuous more posteriorly (Ref. 56055). Preanal length always shorter than postanal length; distance from anterior border of snout to last externally visible dorsal spine always longer than distance from anterior border of snout to last externally visible anal spine, and as a result origin of soft dorsal fin always posterior compared to origin of soft anal fin (Ref. 56055). Dorsal spines increasing in size from first to last (Ref. 56055). One well-developed, externally visible anal spine; a very small almost entirely reduced spine, hidden under the skin, can be present (Ref. 56055). Preopercular and preorbital spines are absent (Ref. 56055).
It has a uniformly light brown overall background colour with numerous small, round, dark brown spots on the dorsal part of head, body and tail (Ref. 56055). Background colour lighter, more yellowish white on lips, ventral region of head, belly and most ventral part of tail (Ref. 56055). Pectoral fins whitish transparent without spots; dorsal, caudal and anal fins also whitish transparent (Ref. 56055).
Coastal in distribution; habitat is rocky bottom, flagstone, rock slides and pebbles (Ref. 56055).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproducción | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larva
Vreven, E.J., 2005. Redescription of Mastacembelus ophidium Günther, 1893 (Synbranchiformes: Mastacembelidae) and description of a new spiny eel from Lake Tanganyika. J. Nat. Hist. 39(18):1539-1560. (Ref. 56055)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Herramientas
Special reports
Download XML
Fuentes de Internet
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=0.00257 (0.00122 - 0.00544), b=2.97 (2.79 - 3.15), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Nivel trófico (Ref.
69278): 3.6 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resiliencia (Ref.
120179): Alto, población duplicada en un tiempo mínimo inferior a 15 meses (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
