Parakneria malaissei Poll, 1969

Family:  Kneriidae (Shellears)
Max. size:  7.8 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: Luanza River (lower Luapula tributary, upper Congo River basin) in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 89134).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): -0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: -0; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 42. Diagnosis: head length 4.8-5.5 times in SL; body height 5.4-7.6 times in SL; snout wide, flat and rounded, 2.4-2.8 times in HL; eye lateral, its diameter 6-7.1 times in HL, 1.8-2.6 times in interorbital distance, 2.1-2.8 times in snout length; dorsal fin origin 1-1.2 times further from tip of snout than from caudal fin origin, slightly in front of pelvic fin origin; anal fin origin 1.7-2 times further from pelvic fins than from caudal fin origin; pectoral fin short and rounded, with 15-16 soft rays, its length 5.1-6.5 times in SL; pelvic fin 5.3-8.3 times in SL, 1.2-1.6 times in HL; caudal peduncle depth 1.4-1.8 times in its length; 88-103 lateral line scales (Ref. 89134). Description: mouth inferior, transversal; upper lips with cutting edge, lower lip absent but cutting edge present on lower jaw; maxillaries forming small, lateral pads; scales longitudinally striated; lateral line complete; caudal fin with 19 soft rays, forked, with rounded lobes (Ref. 89134). Coloration: yellowish, with dorsal and lateral surfaces (except lower flanks and belly) with blackish, more or less confluent spots, often forming short transversal bands on the back; 8-9 large, more or less confluent, mediolateral spots on lateral line; fins slightly spotted, caudal fin more densely spotted with darkest dots at base of rays; pectoral and pelvic fin bases with dark spot (Ref. 89134).
Biology:  Maximum TL was recorded at 9.2 cm (Ref. 89134).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Known from the Luanza River (lower Luapula tributary)(Ref. 89134). Also Ref. 3565, 44638.


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