Hippopotamyrus smithersi (Määr, 1962)
Species overview
Medium-sized fish, body rather deep, oval in profile, head round-snouted, mouth subterminal, chin swollen, base of dorsal fin much longer than base of anal. Back dark, belly lighter, countershaded. Size observed: 245 mm SL, 280 mm TL.
H. smithersi(measurements)
Taxonomic description
-Body rather deep, laterally compressed, body depth 34 % SL, greatest depth near dorsal fin; head short, head length 26 % SL, 108 % head depth; head depth 28 % SL, 83 % body depth.
-Outline of back strongly convex from head to end of dorsal fin, outline of belly slightly convex, upper profile of head convex, end of snout steeply sloping; underside of head concave.
-Snout rounded, protruding mouth, 32 % head length, 53 % postorbital length; postorbital length 60 % head length.
-Mouth subterminal, small, its edge below posterior nostril, upper jaw on a level with lower edge opercular cleft; Chin with submental swelling.
-Teeth notched, small, hidden in the gums, 4/6.
-Nostrils separate, anterior circular, posterior nostril oval, well below lower rim of eye, their axis cuts axis of head at an angle of less than 30°; distance between nostrils 16 % snout length, distance posterior nostril to eye 44 % snout length.
-Eye diameter 12 % head length.
-Opercular cleft curved, 30 % head depth.
-Dorsal fin 34 fin rays, base of D 29 % SL, anal fin 26 rays, its base 19 % SL, D originating well before origin of A, ,ending behind end of A. Predorsal length 60 % SL, preanal length 56 % SL.
-Pectoral fin obtusely pointed, extending to middle of pelvic fin, V closer to P than to A.
-Caudal fin obtusely pointed, the scaled lobes rounded, occupying 2/3 of its length. 66 scales in lateral line, 12 scale round caudal peduncle. Length of caudal peduncle 17 % SL, its depth 8 % SL, or 30 % its length.
-Coloration »The body, head and fins of the specimen preserved in formalin are light brown in colour, the body having a slightly whitish tinge underneath«. Most probably countershaded with darker back and brighter belly.
Type locality
»Zambesi River above the Kariba Lake wall«.
Distribution
Type locality.
Remark: Only known from the holotype.