Teleostei (teleosts) >
Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues) >
Mormyridae (Elephantfishes)
Etymology: Petrocephalus: Latin, petra = stone + Greek, kephale = head (Ref. 45335); petersi: The species name petersi is given in honour of the German herpetologist Wilhelm C.H. Peters who had carried out a major fish survey of the lower Zambezi region, and discovered many of the endemics and other widespread species during his 'Naturwissenschaftliche Reise nach Mossambique 1842-1848' (Ref. 91771).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
Africa: Zambezi River Delta and Melela River (Ref. 91771).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 91771)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18 - 20; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 25 - 26. Diagnosis: Body depth 28.7-32.3% of standard length; predorsal length 62.3-65.8% of standard length; preanal length 59.5-63.7% of standard length; length of snout to centre of eye 34.5-38.3% of head length; length of snout to posterior orbital rim of eye 44.2-47.9% of head length; number of scales around caudal peduncle 12-16 (Ref. 91771).
Habitat of type locality is a medium-sized stream, sand substrate with lots of leaf litter and marginal grass; prefers freshwater (<1% salinity) (Ref. 91771).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Kramer, B., R. Bills, P. Skelton and M. Wink, 2012. A critical revision of the churchill snoutfish, genus Petrocephalus Marcusen, 1854 (Actinopterygii: Teleostei: Mormyridae), from southern and eastern Africa, with the recognition of Petrocephalus tanensis, and the description of five new species. Journal of Natural History 46(35-36):2179-2258. (Ref. 91771)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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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=0.01585 (0.00697 - 0.03603), b=2.85 (2.67 - 3.03), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).