Botswana country information

Common names: [No common name]
Occurrence: native
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: live export: yes;
Comments: Known from the Okavango Delta in the Thamalakane River, Nxaraga Lagoon, Xakanixa Lagoon, Magwexana Lagoon, mainstream channel and Dungu Lagoon (Ref. 27501). Also Ref. 6060.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/bc.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Merron, G.S. and M.N. Bruton, 1995
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Shorttail spiny eel, Spiny eel, Longtailed spinyeel, ... more

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Synbranchiformes (Spiny eels) > Mastacembelidae (Spiny eels)
Etymology: Mastacembelus: Greek, mastax, -agos = bite + Greek, emballo = to throw oneself (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Boulenger.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 7.4 - 8.4; dH range: 7 - 30. Tropical; 23°C - 27°C (Ref. 12468)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Africa: Lake Victoria through Lake Tanganyika and their associated catchment basins to the Upper Zambezi and Okavango Rivers (Ref. 6060). Also in the upper Congo River basin in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 2970, 45616, 93587) and Zambia (Ref. 246, 27609, 45616), in the Zambezi in Zimbabwe (Ref. 94654) and Angola (Ref. 120641) and in eastward flowing rivers of Tanzania (Ref. 4967, 41366).

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 40.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 80296)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 18 - 35; Dorsal soft rays (total): 64 - 73; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 67 - 80; Vertebrae: 95 - 96. Diagnosis: Anterior nostril in the form of a short tentacle; snout produced as a fleshy appendage (Ref. 34290). Number of dorsal-fin spines 18-35; anal fin with 2 separate spines (Ref. 34290, 123814). Colour extremely variable, ground colour brown with a variable reticulated and blotched pattern (Ref. 34290).

Mainly riverine species, but also occurs in lakes near river mouths and in vegetated fringes and in swamps (Ref. 80296). Also found in rapids where it hides among rocks (Ref. 85214). Essentially a sedentary fish, nocturnal and usually waiting for its prey to swim or drift within range whereupon fish will dart out of its shelter to seize it (Ref. 89002). Feeds on aquatic insect larvae (Ref. 80296), lithophilic insects (Ref. 12526), fish (Ref. 13624, 27292), shrimps (Ref. 246, 80296), oligochetes and occasionally vegetable matter (Ref. 80296, 89002). Breeds during flood season, in inundated areas (Ref. 80296). Eggs yellow and large, probably spawned among water weeds (Ref. 89002).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Travers, R.A., G. Eynikel and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde, 1986. Mastacembelidae. p. 415-427. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 6060)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 08 December 2015

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

FAO(Publication : search) | FishSource |

More information

Trophic ecology
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Ecology
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Population dynamics
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Life cycle
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Egg(s)
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Distribution
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Anatomy
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Physiology
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Swimming type
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Visual pigment(s)
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Stamps, coins, misc.

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Check for Aquarium maintenance | Check for Species Fact Sheets | Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

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Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00257 (0.00122 - 0.00544), b=2.97 (2.79 - 3.15), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.9 ±0.63 se; based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Moderate vulnerability (39 of 100).

Mastacembelus frenatus Boulenger, 1901