Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic. Tropical
Africa: White Nile basin (Ref. 2936, 28714), Chad basin and Benue River (Ref. 2936, 86396).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 14.0  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 28714)
Diagnosis: body depth 4.7-6.2 and head length 3.1-3.8x SL; caudal peduncle 1.5-2x longer than high; head flattened, 2.9-3.5 longer than wide; eye diameter 4-7x of head length; scale formula 12.5-14.5/90-107/13.5-14.5; single, dark, undulating longitudinal band along lateral line (not visible in live specimens); caudal-fin lobes marked with oblong black spots (Chad and Benué) (Ref. 2936, 86396).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Maximum TL was recorded at 24.5 cm (Ref. 7094). Inhabits open water and fringing vegetation. Feeds on Caridina and fish fry (Ref. 28714).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Gosse, J.-P. and E.J. Coenen, 1990. Distichodontidae. p. 237-260. In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douces et saumâtres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. Tome I. Coll. Faune Tropicale n° XXVIII. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren and O.R.S.T.O.M., Paris, 384 p. (Ref. 2936)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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