This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the functionality of our site. For more detailed information about the types of cookies we use and how we protect your privacy, please visit our Privacy Information page.
This website uses different types of cookies to enhance your experience. Please select your preferences below:
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. For example, we use Google Analytics to generate web statistics, which helps us improve our website's performance and user experience. These cookies may track information such as the pages visited, time spent on the site, and any errors encountered.
Papyrocranus afer (Günther, 1868) Reticulate knifefish |
![]() |
photo by
Kaladjian, M. |
Family: | Notopteridae (Featherbacks or knifefishes), subfamily: Xenomystinae | |||
Max. size: | 80 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,320.0 g | |||
Environment: | demersal; freshwater; pH range: 6.5; dH range: 10 | |||
Distribution: | Africa: Niger basin (upper Niger, Benue and Niger Delta), most coastal river basins from Senegal and Gambia eastward to include the Tano and Prah basins in Ghana, and the Cross and Sanaga basins east of the Niger delta (Ref. 7431). Absent from the Volta basin, Chad, Ogooué, Kwilu-Niari or Chiloango basins (Ref. 7431). | |||
Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 2-2; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 113-141. With 35-45 ventral spines; head 5.0-5.1 times SL; eye diameter 4.6-5.3 times head length; length of nasal tentacle twice the eye diameter. Caudal vertebrae 63-69 (Ref. 7431). | |||
Biology: | Prefers calm waters with dense vegetation. | |||
IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 October 2019 Ref. (130435) | |||
Threat to humans: | harmless |