Enteromius trispilos (Bleeker, 1863)
Enteromius trispilos
photo by Mody, K.

Family:  Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Smiliogastrinae
Max. size:  10.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: known from the Guinean basins to the west of the Volta and from Côte d'Ivoire basins up to the Nipoué (=Cess) (Ref. 2940, 81282).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Diagnosis: last simple dorsal-fin ray smooth on hind margin; head elongate; scale formula 3.5-4.5/26-29/4.5; 2.5 scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin base; 12 scales around caudal peduncle; 7-8 branched dorsal fin rays; caudal peduncle deeper than B. anniae (ratio caudal peduncle depth/head length over 50%); two pairs of fairly long barbels; anterior barbel reaching to, or extending beyond, posterior half of eye; posterior barbel extending beyond hind margin of eye; lateral line complete and weakly depressed below dorsal fin; maximum reported size 105 mm SL; 3 large well defined spots on sides, 1st before level of dorsal-fin origin, 2nd slightly behind vertical line from last dorsal-fin ray, 3rd at end of caudal peduncle; average distance between centres 2nd-3rd spot/distance between centres 1st-2nd spot (= RDT) is 1.14-1.22; fins colorless in life; adults with larger spots (Ref. 2940, 81282). Description: dorsal profile slightly convex, with pointed head; some lines of cephalic pores more or less visible on the head; D: III,(7)8; A: III,5 (Ref. 2940, 81282). Coloration: 3 rounded, well defined spots along middle of sides, 7th or 8th scale above lateral line, 2nd behind vertical line from last dorsal-fin ray, 3rd at end of caudal peduncle; lateral-line scales as well as those above, and those in the 2 rows below lateral line, lined with melanophores (Ref. 2940, 81282).
Biology:  Affinities: B. anniae (massive head, long and wider, dorsal shorter, smaller spots); B. tiekoroi (longer head, shorter dorsal, smaller spots, colored fins); B. traorei = sympatric with B. trispilos, (3.5 scales below lateral line, shorter barbels) (Ref. 2940).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 March 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.