Sarotherodon galilaeus
| Sarotherodon galilaeus | ||||||||||||
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Sarotherodon galilaeus galilaeus |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Sarotherodon galilaeus | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
Sarotherodon galilaeus is a species of fish from the family of the cichlids (Cichlidae), which is very widespread with five subspecies in North, West and Central Africa and alsooccursin the Middle East . The stock in the Jordan and the Sea of Galilee is also known as Petrusfisch .
features
Sarotherodon galilaeus becomes 13 to over 30 cm long depending on the subspecies and has a very high-backed, laterally flattened body. The head takes up almost a third of the standard length . The gill arches are covered with numerous gill trap rays (over 20 on the lower branch of the first gill arch). The fish are usually silvery-gray to blue-gray in color, with lighter bellies and bluish or gray fins. The sides can be provided with dark bands. The different subspecies and populations of the large distribution area show quite different colors and different body relations.
Way of life
Juveniles of Sarotherodon galilaeus adult animals live in small shoals near the shore, more open water in the breeding season but territorial also near the shore or on the water bottom. Sarotherodon galilaeus feeds mainly on algae and detritus . Like all Sarotherodon species, they are mouthbrooders . Both the females and the males take the eggs in their mouths.
The specimens living in the Sea of Galilee are from breeding because it is too warm to spawn in Israeli waters.
Subspecies and distribution
- Sarotherodon galilaeus borkuanus , (Pellegrin, 1919); 13.0 cm, in the lakes of Ounianga in northern Chad ( Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti region );
- Fin formula : dorsal XV – XVII / 12–13, anals III / 9–11; Vertebra: 28-30.
- Sarotherodon galilaeus boulengeri , (Pellegrin, 1903); 16.0 cm, in the lower and central Congo from Matadi to Pool Malebo and in the lower Kasai , introduced in the lower Ogooué in Gabon;
- Fin formula: Dorsal XVI – XVII / 12, Anale III / 9–11; Vertebrae: 29-30.
- Sarotherodon galilaeus galilaeus , (Linnaeus, 1758); 34.0 cm, Africa and Middle East, Jordan , coastal rivers of Israel , river basin of the Nile , Lake Albert , Lake Turkana , Ubangi and Uelle , central Congo Basin , West Africa ( Senegal , Gambia , Casamance , Konkouré , Niger , Volta , Mono , Ouémé , Ogun , Cross River , Benue , Ejagham Lake , Logone , Shari and Lake Chad ), Morocco ( Wadi Draa );
- Fin formula: Dorsal XIV – XVII / 11–14, Anale III / 9–12; Vertebra: 27-31.
- Sarotherodon galilaeus multifasciatus , (Günther, 1903); 13.7 cm, Ivory Coast ( Sassandra , Bandama and Comoé ) and western Ghana ( Tano and Bosumtwisee );
- Fin formula: dorsal XIV-XVI / 11-14, anal III / 9-11; Vertebra: 27-29.
- Sarotherodon galilaeus sanagaensis , (Thys van den Audenaerde, 1966); 13.1 cm Sanaga and Nyong (Cameroon);
- Fin formula: dorsal XV – XVII / 12–13, anals III / 9–11; Vertebra: 28-30.
literature
- Melanie Stiassny, Guy Teugels & Carl D. Hopkins: The Fresh and Brackish Water Fishes of Lower Guinea, West-Central Africa, Volume 2. ISBN 9789074752213
Web links
- Sarotherodon galilaeus on Fishbase.org (English)