Enteromius guirali (Thominot, 1886)
Enteromius guirali
photo by JJPhoto

Family:  Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Smiliogastrinae
Max. size:  15.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 5.5 - 6
Distribution:  Africa: Sanaga basin in Cameroon to the Chiloango drainage in Republic of the Congo (Ref. 81639) and Angola (Cabinda)(Ref. 120641), including the basins of the Ntem, Nyong, OgoouĂ©, Nyanga and Kouilou-Niari (Ref. 81639). Reported from the rivers Dja and Ngoko (Ref. 51193) and Alima (Ref. 42035)(middle Congo River basin), but this is not confirmed in Ref. 81639, which considers this species to be a Lower Guinea endemic.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 7-7. Diagnosis: mouth subinferior; two pairs of equally long barbels; 22-26 scales in lateral line; 12 circumpeduncular scales; last simple ray of dorsal fin heavily ossified and serrated; no trace of striping or spotting on sides (Ref. 81639). Description: medium-sized with body moderately elevated; anterior pair of barbels 1.25-1.5x eye diameter; posterior pair 1.5-2.0x eye diameter; scales radially striated; lateral line complete; 4.5 scales between lateral line and dorsal fin origin; 4.5-5.5 scales between lateral line and mid-belly; 2.5-3.0 scales between lateral line and pelvic fin insertion; D:III,8(9); A:II,5; P:14-17; V:8-9; dorsal fin with slight concave border, last simple ray strongly ossified, serrated posteriorly (Ref. 81639). Coloration: ground color silvery on flanks, pale brown dorsally; no signs of spots or lines on body; scales with black borders; dorsal fin yellow orange with black sickle-shaped bar on distal part, white border near edge; pectoral, pelvic and anal fins colorless; caudal fin yellow orange at base, colorless distally (Ref. 81639).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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 Not for publication.