Kneria paucisquamata Poll & Stewart, 1975

Family:  Kneriidae (Shellears)
Max. size:  4.83 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: endemic to the Luongo River (Luapula affluent, upper Congo River basin) in Zambia (Ref. 89001).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): -0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: -0; Anal soft rays: 10. Diagnosis: body depth 18.7-26.1% standard length (SL); head length 16.8-20% SL; distance tip of snout to dorsal fin origin 53-60% SL (Ref. 2970, 89001). Distance dorsal fin origin to caudal fin base 43-51% SL (Ref. 89001). Snout length 30-35% head length (HL) (Ref. 2970, 89001), 109.5-138% eye diameter (ED) (Ref. 2970). Eye diameter 23.9-28% HL (Ref. 2970, 89001). Interorbital distance 120-160% ED; preorbital distance 47.6-65% ED; pectoral fin length 12.9-16.1% SL (Ref. 2970). Eyes lateral; opercular organ (present only in males) larger than eye; dorsal fin origin slightly behind a vertical through the pelvic fin base; pectoral fins very short, same length as the pelvic fins; distance between pelvic fin base and anal fin larger than anal fin-caudal fin base distance; scales relatively large; body yellowish, with 3 longitudinale bands: one dorsal, one mediolateral which is split up anteriorly by the paler lateral line, and a ventral band which is shorter; bands well developed in males, but in females usually more or less broken up in irregular spots, especially the dorsal band, while the ventral band is mostly absent; fins greyish; head marbled and spotted irregularly (Ref. 89001). Description: Remark: note that the first column in the comparative table in Ref. 2970 (p. 41) contains the morphometrics for K. katangae and the second for K. paucisquamata, contrarily to what is mentioned above the respective columns (T. Musschoot, pers. comm.).
Biology:  Epibenthic algae scraper (Ref. 27609). Maximum TL was recorded at 5.5 cm (Ref. 89001).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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