Classification / Names
Common names from other countries
Main reference
Size / Weight / Age
Max length : 45.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26550); max. published weight: 2.5 kg (Ref. 26550); max. reported age: 7 years (Ref. 7248)
Length at first maturity
Lm 17.7  range ? - ? cm
Environment
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; depth range 3 - 8 m (Ref. 58302)
Climate / Range
Tropical; 24°C - 28°C (Ref. 2059), preferred ?; 20°N - 20°S
Distribution
Africa: from the middle Congo River basin (Kasai drainage and between the Lomami and Kisangani) up to the upper Lualaba and the Bangweulu area (Ref. 55074). Also in Lake Malawi, Zambesi, coastal areas from Zambesi Delta to Natal, Okavango and Cunene (Ref. 5163) as well as the Limpopo, Malagarasi (Ref. 55074) and Lake Tanganyika (Ref. 55074, 74387). Also present in the Cuanza and Catumbela rivers in Angola (Ref. 11970). Introduced elsewhere usually for weed control and aquaculture. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions
Short description
Dorsal
spines
(total): 15 - 17;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 10-13;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 9 - 10;
Vertebrae: 29. Head and body mid to dark olive-green dorsally, paling over the flanks. Body usually with vertical bars only and scales with a dark basal crescent. Dorsal fin olive-green with a thin red margin and white to grey dark oblique spots on the soft rays; caudal fin spotted on dorsal half and red or yellow on ventral half (Ref. 4967, 34290).
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
Threat to humans
Potential pest
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)
Trophic Level
2.3 ±0.1 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.13-0.18; tmax=7)
Vulnerability
Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100)
Price category