| Family: |
Citharinidae (Lutefishes) |
| Max. size: |
84 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 4,600.0 g |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater, potamodromous |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Chad, Bénué, Niger and Volta basins (Ref. 81281). Previously, 2 subspecies were recognized: Citharinops distichodoides distichodoides in Chad and Bénué basins (Ref. 2938, 81281), and Citharinops distichodoides thomasi in Niger and Volta basins (Ref. 2938, 7095, 81281). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-19; Anal soft rays: 20-23. Diagnosis: more elongate than Cithardium and Citharinus species; body depth 2.2-2.7x and head length 3-3.7x SL; caudal peduncle 0.7-1.1x long than deep; head 1.6-2.0x long than wide; short snout, 1.0-1.7x of eye diameter; pectoral fins almost half of head length; adipose fin 0.3-0.7x its distance to dorsal fin; caudal fin with symmetrical lobes (tips becoming round in adults); cycloid scales; scale formula 7.5-9.5/50-56/10.5-12.5; 7.5-9.5 scales between lateral line and dorsal fin origin; 16-19 dorsal fin branched rays; 20-23 anal fin branched rays (Ref. 2938, 81281).
Description: eye covered with adipose eyelid (Ref. 2938, 81281).
Coloration: silvery body with black longitudinal lines between scale rows; adipose fin blackish; fins gray-blue; juveniles with anterior part of anal and lower part of caudal red (Ref. 2938, 81281). |
| Biology: |
Monospecific, distinguished from other genus of family by the body form which is more elongated than 2 other genus: Citharidium and Citharinus (Ref. 2938). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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