| Family: |
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps), subfamily: Torinae |
| Max. size: |
50 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater, potamodromous |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Lake Malawi basin (Ref. 2801, 75045). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-14; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 8-9; Vertebrae: 40-43. Diagnosis: High lateral line scale count, 31-40 scales on lateral line; long, robust barbelsof equal length; and enlarged, molariform pharyngeal teeth (Ref. 75045).
Description: Snout rounded; complete range of variation between the soft-lipped form and the shovel-lipped form (Ref. 4967). A high gillraker count, 10-15 gill rakers (Ref. 75045). Dorsal fin with 4-5 unbranched rays; a flexible and not heavily ossified last simple dorsal ray (Ref. 75045). Predorsal scale rows 10-14 (Ref. 75045). Total vertebrae 40-43; 22-24 abdominal vertebrae, 16-19 caudal vertebrae and 10-12 predorsal vertebrae; 14-16 rib pairs (Ref. 75045). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits inshore areas of the lake, but ascends rivers to breed (Ref. 4967). Found in all types of habitat and occurs in groups of about 25 individuals; not exported for trade (Ref. 5595). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
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