Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and filefishes) >
Tetraodontidae (Puffers) > Tetraodontinae
Etymology: Tetraodon: Greek, tetra = four + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 6.5 - 7.5; dH range: 10 - 20. Tropical; 22°C - 26°C (Ref. 1672), preferred ?
Africa: reported from "large rivers in the Congo basin" (Ref. 2829), but apparently limited to Pool Malebo (Ref. 41585) or "Leopoldville" (=Kinshasa)(Ref. 41590, 41591).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 9.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2829)
Found in large rivers (Ref. 2829), i.e. not a brackish water species. Feeds on benthic animals such as snails and worms. Solitary, aggressive against conspecifics. Eggs are deposited on leaves and defended by the male.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Male sometimes guards the clutch.
Roberts, T.R., 1986. Tetraodontidae. p. 434-436. 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. 2829)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
More information
Age/Size
Growth
Length-weight
Length-length
Length-frequencies
Morphometrics
Morphology
Larvae
Larval dynamics
Recruitment
Abundance
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5020 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02692 (0.01222 - 0.05929), b=2.88 (2.70 - 3.06), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.45 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100) .