Marcusenius brucii (Boulenger, 1909)
Species overview
Smaller fish, body rather deep, head small, uneven blunt-snout, somewhat longer than deep, snout obtusely pointed, caudal peduncle rather deep, caudal fin quite large. Greyish, countershaded. Size observed: 175 mm SL.
M. brucii(measurements)
Taxonomic description
-Body rather deep, dody depth 23-34 % SL, greatest depth close to anal fin.
-Head moderately long, 22-24 % SL, head depth 17-23 % SL, 64-83 % dody depth.
-Outline of back slightly convex between D and neck, slightly concave on neck, upper profile of head convex, underside of head slightly concave, outline of belly slightly convex.
-Snout obtusely pointed, 18-24 % head length, 27-34 % postorbital length.
-Mouth 15-19 % head length, terminal, its edge below posterior nostril, upper jaw on a level with lower rim of eye.
-Chin with moderate globular swelling.
-Teeth conical 5/6.
-Nostrils separate, circular, anterior close to outline of snout, on a level with upper rim of lens, posterior on a level with lower rim of lens. Axis of nostrils makes an angle of about 60° to axis of head.
-Eye medium, its diameter 13-15 % head length, 20-24 % postorbital length.
-Opercular cleft S-shaped, 39-60 % head depth.
-Dorsal fin 24-26 fin-rays, base of D 20-22 % SL, anal fin 29-31 rays, base of A 24-27 % SL, D originating behind origin of A, ending before end of A; predorsal length 61-66 % SL, preanal length 58-63 % SL.
-Pectoral fin pointed, length, extending beyond base of pelvic fin. V is closer to P than to A.
-Caudal fin pointed, scaled lobe covering half of it. 59-68 scales in lateral line; 12 round caudal peduncle.
-Caudal peduncle 16-18 % SL, its depth 7-9 % SL, 38-46 % its length.
-Coloration »Dirty greenish, darker above, paler beneath; fins dark brown«.
Type locality
»Ogun river at Aro, interior of Lagos«. (06° 27 ‘ N 03° 23 ‘ E)
Distribution
Only known from Ogun and Oshun rivers, Nigeria