Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues) > Mormyridae (Elephantfishes)
Etymology: Gnathonemus: Greek, gnathos = jaw + Greek, nema = filament (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 10608); depth range 27 - 45 m (Ref. 9606). Tropical, preferred ?

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

Africa: Victoria Nile (Ref. 1880), Lake Kyoga (Ref. 4903), Lake Victoria basin (Ref. 34290), Middle Akagera River system (Ref. 46152), Malagarazi River (Ref. 54847, 98755), Lake Tanganyika (Ref. 45485).

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ?, range 10 - ? cm
Max length : 36.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 52331)

In Lake Kyoga abundant among or near water lilies (Ref. 49805) and in Lake Victoria it occurs in shallow, inshore waters over sandy and rocky shores (Ref. 4903, 97924), seasonally over muddy bottoms adjacent to papyrus swamps or deep water near rocky islands (Ref. 9606, 97924). Feeds on bottom and in marginal vegetation; insectivorous (chironomid larvae, Povilla, Odonata larvae), but arthropods, oligochaetes and fish eggs are also eaten (Ref. 12526). Uses sensitive pointed addition to chin for testing holes in mud, papyrus roots and between stones to locate underwater insects (Ref. 36900). Rotates body to almost vertical position, searches substrate and grabs prey into mouth; produces weak electric organ discharge for navigation and to warn off other organisms (Ref. 97924). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Breeds twice a year during the rainy seasons, and migrates up rivers to spawn (Ref. 10608).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Gosse, J.-P., 1984. Mormyridae. p. 63-122. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ORSTOM, Paris and MRAC, Tervuren. Vol. 1. (Ref. 3203)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: of no interest

FAO(Publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around Us

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Gnathonemus longibarbis (Hilgendorf, 1888)