Teleostei (teleosts) >
Synbranchiformes (Spiny eels) >
Mastacembelidae (Spiny eels)
Etymology: Mastacembelus: Greek, mastax, -agos = bite + Greek, emballo = to throw oneself (Ref. 45335); robertsi: Named for Tyson R. Roberts who collected part of the typematerial and who first suggested that this species might well be new to science (Ref. 28147).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 6°N - 7°S
Africa: lower Congo River and Pool Malebo in Democratic Republic of the Congo, and lower Kotto and Bomu rivers (Ubangui drainage, middle Congo River basin) in Central African Republic; also reported from Bangui fish market in Central African Republic (Ref. 28147).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 33.8 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 84205)
Short description
Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal
spines
(total): 22 - 26;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 66-92;
Anal
spines: 1-2;
Anal
soft rays: 63 - 92;
Vertebrae: 74 - 82. Can be distinguished from other African mastacembelid species by following combination of characters: small eyes, anterior border of first dorsal spine situated before, above, or just behind posterior edge of pectoral fin; generally the color pattern is uniform (Ref. 28147).
Collected mostly from the rapids. For specimens of the Lower Congo River basin (mainstream), water temperature was recorded at a range of 24.7-29.0°C, air temperature at 23.3-30.0°C, D.O. 8.0 mg/l, and pH 7.0-7.5 (Ref. 28147).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Vreven, E.J. and G.G. Teugels, 1996. Description of a new mastacembelid species (Synbranchiformes; Mastacembelidae) from the Zaïre River basin in Africa. Copeia 1996(1):130-139. (Ref. 28147)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 126983)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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