Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Anabantidae (Climbing gouramies)
Etymology: Microctenopoma: Greek, mikros = small + Greek, kteis, ktenos = comb + Greek, poma = cover, operculum (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.8 - 7.8; dH range: ? - 25. Tropical; 23°C - 27°C (Ref. 2060), preferred ?
Africa: lower and central Congo River basin in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 1880, 4910, 41591, 45441, 106290), Republic of the Congo (Ref. 45477, 83895) and Central African Republic (Ref. 45441, 52070). Also in the Chiloango River in Cabinda (Angola) (Ref. 1880, 81650). Known from a single specimen from the Ogowe in Gabon (Ref. 1880, 81650). Also reported from the Lake Chad basin, but this has not been confirmed by verifiable specimens (Ref. 57414, 81650). Reports from the Aruwimi (middle Congo River basin, Democratic Republic of the Congo)(Ref. 41590, 82705) based on misidentified specimens of M. uelense (Ref. 26634).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.2 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 57414); 5.5 cm SL (female)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 15 - 17;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 7-10;
Anal
spines: 9-11;
Anal
soft rays: 9 - 12;
Vertebrae: 26 - 27. Diagnosis: 9-11 anal fin spines and 9-12 soft rays; flanks and unpaired fins mottled or bearing 6-8 dark vertical, narrowly separated bars; eye diameter 3-3.5 times into head length (Ref. 57414).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Builds bubble nests.
Norris, S.M., 2003. Anabantidae. p. 691-707. In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douce et saumâtres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, Tome 2. Coll. Faune et Flore tropicales 40. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgique, Museum National d'Histoire Naturalle, Paris, France and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris, France. 815 p. (Ref. 57414)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: ; aquarium: commercial
More information
Age/SizeGrowthLength-weightLength-lengthLength-frequenciesMorphometricsMorphologyLarvaeLarval dynamicsRecruitmentAbundance
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources