Description:
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis:
body short and robust, its depth 4.2-5.2 times in
standard length; head as long as broad, dorsal surface
rough; maxillary barbels non-membranous and unbranched,
up to 2 times longer than head; mandibular barbels
with short, simple ramifications; humeral process
long and pointed; 1st dorsal-fin spine smooth on anterior
and posterior margins; 2nd dorsal fin with 10-14 rays;
pectoral-fin spines more strongly denticulate on inner
than on outer margin; caudal fin deeply forked, with
upper lobe slightly longer than lower. Habitat:
This is a demersal, potamodromous fish found in lakes
and majors rivers in shallow waters and marginal vegetation.
Colouration: General colour pattern
similar to that of
M. niloticus,
but there seem to be fewer dots on dorsal fins. Reproduction:
Oviparous. Distinct pairing during breeding. Diet:
It probably feeds on mollusc and insect larvae.
Etymology: Genus name of Mochokus
is the latinisation of Mouchchouéké,
Arabic name for M. niloticus, roughly translating
as “don’t get stung or jabbed by it,”
referring to its dangerously sharp spines, which local
fishermen try to avoid. Specific name of brevis
means short, as it has a noticeably shorter and deeper
body than M. niloticus.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Mochokidae
Distribution:
Africa:
Nile and Chad basins. Type locality:
Fashoda and Lake No, White Nile.
Size:
3.0cm. (1¼ins) T.L.
Temp:
22-28°C (71-83°F)
p.H.
6.5-7.8.
Reference:
Ferraris, C.J. Jr.,
2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes:
Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary
types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors.
2023. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
www.fishbase.org, ( 07/2023 ). Paugy, D. and T.R. Roberts, 2003.
Mochokidae. p. 195-268 In C. Lévêque,
D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons
d'eaux douce et saumâtres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest,
Tome 2. Coll. Faune et Flore tropicales 40. Musée
Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgique, Museum
National d'Histoire Naturalle, Paris, France and Institut
de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris,
France. 815 p. Seegers, L., 2008. The catfishes
of Africa: A handbook for identification and maintenance.
Aqualog Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, Germany. 604 p.
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