Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues) > Mormyridae (Elephantfishes)
Etymology: Hippopotamyrus: Greek, ippos = horse + Greek,potamos = river + greek, myros = the male of morey eel (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 6.8 - 7.2; dH range: ? - 8. Tropical; 20°C - 24°C (Ref. 13614), preferred ?

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Africa: upper Niger, Bénoué River and Congo River basin (Ref. 3203), where it is widespread. Also in the basins of the Volta, Ouémé and Ogun.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3799); max. published weight: 190.00 g (Ref. 3799)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 30-37; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 22 - 27. Dorsal fin origin before anal fin origin; length of dorsal base to anal base ratio 1.2-1.6. Back convex and hull shaped. LS/Depth ratio 2.9-3.8. Height of caudal peduncle 2.9-4.4 x of its length. The form of the back and the position of the dorsal and anal fins clearly distinguishes this species from others in the same geographic zone.

Possesses electroreceptors over the entire head, on the ventral region (except abdominal area) and the dorsal region of the body, but absent from the side and the caudal peduncle where the electric organ is located (Ref. 10011). Found in large rivers. Edible fish (Ref. 11970).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Bigorne, R., 1990. Mormyridae. p. 122-184. In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux saumâtres d'Afrique de l'Ouest. tome 1. Faune Trop. 28. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, and ORSTOM, Paris. (Ref. 2915)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

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Internet sources

Hippopotamyrus psittacus (Boulenger, 1897)