| Amphiliidae (Loach catfishes), subfamily: Doumeinae |
| 4.57 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
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demersal; freshwater, |
| Africa: Niger and upper Nile river systems, tributaries of Lake Chad basin, as well as Omo River (Ref. 90257). Common in West Africa (Ref. 57128). |
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Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-7; Anal spines: -0; Anal soft rays: 9-10; Vertebrae: 34-36. Diagnosis: dorsal, pectoral and adipose fins with distinct spine anteriorly; a series of bony scutes on body posterior of the dorsal-fin origin; lateral abdominal surface not covered with superficial scutes; scapulo-coracoid and clavicle lack superficial rugose plates (Ref. 90257).
Description: body very thin and tapering backwards; head short and deep; snout with a distinct, posteriorly bifurcate median bony crest giving rise to other, parallel, crests on dorsal surface of head; eyes rather large and widely separated; nostrils fairly large, the posterior pair partially obstructed by a dermal fold; mouth small and subterminal; barbels tiny and simple, the maxillary pair without a basal membrane; branchiostegal membrane curved ventrally; an occipital process with a median crest on top of head; supraoccipital process flanked by another bony process; dorsal fin separated from supraoccipital process by a narrow space that may be occupied by 1-2 bony scutes; dorsal fin positioned above pelvic fins; principal dorsal- and pectoral-fin ray tiny and bony; pectoral fins with 6 branched rays, their tips reaching to pelvic-fin bases; adipose fin short, preceded by a small spine and positioned above posterior half of anal fin; caudal peduncle long and very narrow, its length comprised 3.2-3.4 times in standard length; caudal fin triangular, its posterior margin lunate; a series of 23-25 bony scutes present on both sides of body between dorsal fin and caudal peduncle and a second series of 21-23 bony scutes between pelvic fins and caudal peduncle; 7+7 principal caudal fin rays (Ref. 57128).
Coloration: back with 4-5 irregular brown spots, belly not pigmented; fins with scattered blackish-brown spots and pale stripes (Ref. 57128). |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 December 2019 Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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