Citharinus latus Müller & Troschel, 1844
Citharinus latus
photo by Laleye, P.

Family:  Citharinidae (Lutefishes)
Max. size:  84 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 2,500.0 g
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: known from Senegal, Casamance, Niger, Volta, Chad basin and certain coastal rivers in Guinéa-Bissau, Togo and Benin (Ref. 2938, 7095, 81281). Also in the Nile and Lake Mobutu Sese Seko (Lake Albert) (Ref. 2938, 7095, 28714).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-23; Anal soft rays: 23-26. Diagnosis: 59-77 lateral line scales (Ref. 28714, 81281). Body depth 1.6-1.9 times and head length 3.3-4.3 times in SL; caudal peduncle length 0.6-0.8 times its depth; short snout, 0.9-1.5 times eye diameter; eye diameter 3.9-6 times in head length; adipose-fin base 1.4-2 times longer than distance separating it from rayed dorsal fin; pointed pectoral fins, shorter than head (0.6-0.85 times head length) and as long as pelvic fins; cycloid scales; scale formula 17.5-18.5/59-71/18.5-19.5; 13.5-15.5 scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin base; 20-23 dorsal fin rays; 23-26 anal fin rays (Ref. 2938, 81281). Description: eye protected by small adipose eyelid; pelvic fins inserted in advance of dorsal-fin origin (Ref. 2938, 81281). Coloration: silvery-white body; adipose-fin base greyish-black; pelvic and anal fins orange-red except at their bases; lower lobe of caudal also orange-red (Ref. 2938, 4903, 81281). All other fins grey (Ref. 4903).
Biology:  Occurs in open water and vegetation beds of lakes and flowing water; ingests mud containing benthic and sedimented algae; spawns in the perennial wetland at high water (in the Sudd in South Sudan) (Ref. 28714).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 April 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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