Brevimyrus niger
| Brevimyrus niger | ||||||||||||
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Brevimyrus niger |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Brevimyrus | ||||||||||||
| Tavern , 1971 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Brevimyrus niger | ||||||||||||
| ( Günther , 1866) |
Brevimyrus niger is an African freshwater fish from the Nilhechte family(Mormyridae). Its distribution area extends from Senegal and Gambia via the Niger , Volta , Ouémé and Chad to the Cross River in southeastern Nigeria.
features
The species reaches a length of 13 to 15 cm and has a moderately tall body, the height of which can reach 23 to 34% of the standard length. The head is exactly as long as it is tall and U-shaped when viewed from above. The snout, in fish the area between the front edge of the eye and the front end of the head, is very short and only makes up 17 to 20% of the head length. The eyes are slightly smaller than the length of the muzzle. The upper head profile is slightly convex and almost straight at the end, as is the back line to the dorsal fin. The mouth is terminal, there is no chin swelling. The teeth are two-pointed, five are found in the upper jaw and 4 to 9 in the lower jaw. The pectoral fins are just as long as the head and reach the end of the pelvic fins. The dorsal fin is shorter than the anal fin, the length of its base is 51 to 78% of the anal fin base. The anal fin begins in front of the dorsal fin and ends just behind it. The tail stalk is twice as long as it is high. The forked caudal fin is scaled over a third of its length.
Brevimyrus niger is silvery in color, the back can also shimmer golden. The back and sides of the body are patterned with irregular spots.
- Fin formula : dorsal 14–20, anal 24–30.
- Scale formula : SL 43–57, 8–12 rows of scales between the lateral line and the dorsal fin, 10–13 between the lateral line and the pelvic fins and 12 around the caudal peduncle.
Systematics
Brevimyrus niger is the only species of the genus Brevimyrus monotypical and the sister species of Hyperopisus bebe .
Way of life
Brevimyrus niger lives in dense vegetation and feeds on insects that the fish usually ingest from the bottom of the water. Like all Nilhechte, Brevimyrus niger is capable of electrical communication and electrical orientation .
literature
- Melanie Stiassny, Guy Teugels & Carl D. Hopkins: The Fresh and Brackish Water Fishes of Lower Guinea, West-Central Africa. Volume 1 ISBN 978-9074752206 , pages 309-310.
Web links
- Brevimyrus niger on Fishbase.org (English)