Teleostei (teleosts) >
Characiformes (Characins) >
Alestidae (African tetras)
Etymology: Brycinus: Greek, ebrykon, brykomai = to bite, to gnaw (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic. Tropical
Africa: Lakes Victoria, Kyoga and Nabugabo; Victoria Nile, Malawa River (Ref. 4903, 34290) and Middle Akagera (Ref. 46152). Also reported from Aswa River (Ref. 4903), Lake Rukwa basin (Ref. 27292) and Malagarazi River (Ref. 54847, 98755).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 13.8 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27292)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 20 - 21. Anal fin margin of females straight or very slightly concave; markedly convex in males (individual rays are stouter and coarser than those of females). Silver, bluish to black dorsally; silver longitudinal band running from behind the operculum to the caudal peduncle, where it merges with an irregular black blotch which extends to the caudal fin base. All fins grey in color; other specimens all yellowish (except for pectorals). Dorsal adipose fin bright orange (Ref. 34290).
In Lake Victoria found in shallow inshore areas with papyrus and other aquatic vegetation (Ref. 34290). In Lakes Kyoga and Nabugabo amongst marginal vegetation; believed to run up rivers during rainy season to spawn (Ref. 4903). Present in lake and affluents in the Lake Rukwa basin (Ref. 27292). Feeds on aquatic plants and surface insects (chironomid pupae), rarely on fishes (Ref. 12526). Appears in small quantities in markets (Ref. 4967).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Seegers, L., 1996. The fishes of the Lake Rukwa drainage. Ann. Mus. R. Afr. Centr., Sci. Zool., 278:1-407. (Ref. 27292)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01230 (0.00541 - 0.02797), b=2.99 (2.81 - 3.17), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.40 se; based on food items.
Generation time: 2.4 ( na - na) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 1
growth studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=4.6).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100).