Leptoglanis xenognathus Boulenger, 1902
photo by RMCA / Mark Hanssens

Family:  Amphiliidae (Loach catfishes), subfamily: Leptoglaninae
Max. size:  7.8 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: Pool Malebo (= Stanley Pool)(Ref. 51287), middle Congo River main course (Ref. 106245), Aruwimi River (Ref. 51287, 106290) and Wagenia Falls (Ref. 51287, 106245) in Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the Ubangi in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic (Ref. 51287).
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 38-41. Anterior margin of mouth with a single large medial fleshy lobe and several lateral fleshy lobes of variable size (Ref. 51287). Premaxillary with toothless anterior portion, posterior portion with slender conical teeth (Ref. 51287). Lower jaw toothless and exceptionally elongate (Ref. 51287). Coronomeckelian bone exceptionally large and well defined (Ref. 51287). Hyomandibular and quadrate joined by a complex joint consisting of a cartilaginous ball partially enclosed by bony sockets (Ref. 51287). An exceptionally short braincase (Ref. 51287). Pharynx and gill arches with numerous soft fleshy fingerlike or digitiform structures (Ref. 51287). Pectoral and pelvic fins excessively branched (Ref. 51287). Number of principal caudal fin rays: 7+8 (Ref. 51287). In life this species has a milk-white body, with fine, faint melanophores concentrated just above and below lateral line canal and in dorsal portions of myoseptal troughs (Ref. 51287). Two broad oblique bands on the dorsal fin, two broad vertical bands on the caudal fin and a single broad band in the middle of the pectoral fin, all composed of brownish melanophores (Ref. 51287); anal fin with a few fine melanophores on some rays, otherwise colorless (Ref. 51287); adipose and pelvic fins without notable color features (Ref. 51287).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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