Morphology Data of Schilbe nyongensis
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. De Vos, L., 2007
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section compressed
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

Diagnosis: adipose fin always present (Ref. 43912, 81643) and fully developed (Ref. 81643). Anterior nostrils closer to each other than to the posterior pair; nasal barbel reaching beyond posterior border of eye, sometimes up to anterior edge of opercle; eyes strikingly large (31-32.7% HL); inner side of pectoral spine strongly serrated; snout projecting beyond mouth (Ref. 43912, 81643).

Description: head rounded, snout prominent, mouth subterminal (Ref. 81643). 50-54 branched rays in anal fin (Ref. 43912, 81643). 46 non-fused vertebrae; 9 branchiostegal rays on one side of head; caudal peduncle longer than deep; nasal barbel at least reaching to midway between eye and opercle and at maximum to anterior border of opercle; maxillary barbel at least reaching to posterior border of opercle and at maximum a little further; inner mandibular barbels short and not reaching beyond eye; outer mandibular barbels at least reaching to anterior and at maximum to posterior border of opercle (Ref. 43912). This species is allied to S. grenfelli and S. mystus which also have the anterior nostrils closer to each other than the posterior ones; S. nyongensis however is easily distinguished from S. mystus by the longer nasal barbel which does not reach beyond the orbit in the latter species, and from S. grenfelli both by the longer barbels and by the strongly serrated inner side of the pectoral spine which is feebly serrated in S. grenfelli; since S. nyongensis is thus far known only from the River Nyong, where S. grenfelli and S. mystus are not found, it is quite probable that the three species are allopatric (Ref. 43912).

Coloration: preserved specimens: dorsum uniformly dark brown, flanks and belly paler; anal fin greyish except basally; pectoral, dorsal and caudal fins greyish, slightly speckled; colourless pelvic fins (Ref. 43912, 81643). Blackish blotch present on each side above pectoral fin (Ref. 43912).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Schilbe nyongensis

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels 8
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb 10
on upper limb 4
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 1
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin present

Caudal fin

Attributes forked

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     1
Soft-rays   9 - 10
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     
Soft-rays   6
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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