Alestopetersius caudalis (Boulenger, 1899)
Yellowtail tetra
Alestopetersius caudalis
photo by Hippocampus-Bildarchiv

Family:  Alestidae (African tetras)
Max. size:  6.2 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater; pH range: 6.5 - 7.80000019073486; dH range: 20
Distribution:  Africa: lower and middle Congo River basin in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic (Ref. 42032), including the marine lower Congo, Lake Tumba, Ruki drainage, Ubangi, Uele (Ref. 42032), Itimbiri, Aruwimi (Ref. 42032, 106290) and Lindi-Tshopo (Ref. 106290).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal spines: 3-4; Anal soft rays: 19-20. Description: Body depth 21/3-21/2 times in TL, head length 31/2-4 times; head as long as deep, upper profile slightly concave; its lower jaw projecting neyod upper; snout much shorter than eye, which is 21/2-2 2/3 times in HL and equals interorbital width; maxillary extending to below anterior border of eye; outer premaxillary teeth 4, alternating with the 8 inner ones; lower jaw teeth 8; gill rakers rather long, lower anterior arch 16-18; D II,8 originating immediately behind vertical of base of ventral, at equal distance from end of snout and from caudal, longest ray as long as head; A III-IV, 19-20; pectoral little shorterr than head, reaching or nearly reaching than ventral; caudal fin forked with pointed lobes; caudal peduncle as long as deep; scales 29-30 51/2 / 31/2; scales between lateral line and root of ventral 2; reddish, with a silvery lateral band, which becomes blackish on the caudal peduncle and extends as a black band on the caudal fin (Ref. 1878).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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