Marcusenius furcidens (Pellegrin, 1920)
Species overview
Larger species, body rather deep, head uneven blunt-snouted, globular swelling pronounced, uniform brownish with yellowish or purplish tinge. Size observed: 292 mm S, one of the types, specimens observed in the N’ zi river, Ivory Coast: (female) 259 mm SL, 229 g, (male) 302 mm SL, 282 g.
M. furcidens(measurements)
Taxonomic description
-Body laterally compressed, body depth 25-31 % SL, greatest depth above origin of anal fin.
-Head short, head depth 21-25 % SL, head depth 17-20 % SL, 59-73 % body depth.
-Outline of back strongly convex, upper profile of head convex, underside of head feebly concave, outline of belly slightly convex.
-Snout obtusely pointed,21-31 % head depth, 37-59 % postorbital length.
-Mouth width 10-15 % head depth, terminal, its edge below anterior nostril, upper jaw on a level with upper edge base of pectoral fin.
-Chin with strong globular swelling, directed forward-downward.
-Teeth shape clearly notched, 5/6.
-Nostrils separate, circular, anterior nostril on a level with centre of eye, posterior on a level with lower rim of eye, distance between nostrils about half their distance from eye. Axis of nostrils making an angle of more than 60° to axis of head.
-Eye diameter 15-23 % head depth, 25-44 % postorbital length.
-Opercular cleft curved, 30-40 % head depth, 38-54 % head depth.
-Dorsal fin 29-34 fin-rays, base of D 22-29 % SL, anal fin 30-36 rays, base of A 23-28 % SL, D originating more or less opposite origin of A, ending before end of A; predorsal length 55-61 % SL, preanal length 51-57 % SL.
-Pectoral fin pointed, extending to middle of pelvic fin. V is closer to P than to A.
-Caudal fin pointed, scaled lobes half as long as entire fin. 63-73 scales in lateral line; 12 round caudal peduncle.
-Caudal peduncle 18-23 % SL, its depth 5-7 % SL, 24-32 % its length.
-Coloration Uniform yellowish-brown or purplish-brown.
Type locality
»Lagune Comoé, Côte d’ Ivoire«.
Distribution
Ivory Coast, Rivers Comoé, Bandama and Sassandra; (Bandama river: 05° 10 ‘ N 04° 48 ‘ E; Sassandra river: 04° 58 ‘ N 06° 05 ‘ W; N’ zi river: 05° 57 ‘ N 04° 50’ W)