Marcusenius monteiri (Günther, 1873)
Species overview
Medium-sized fish, body moderately deep, shape like an elongate arrow head, head uneven blunt-snouted, eye quite large, caudal peduncle slim. Uniform silvery.
Size observed: 299 mm SL.
M. monteiri(measurements)
Taxonomic description
-Body moderately elongate, laterally compressed, body depth 27-31 % SL, greatest depth near anal fin.
-Head length 23-26 % SL, Head length 23-26 % SL, head depth 13-20 % SL, 43-72 % body depth.
-Outlines of back and belly slightly convex, upper profile of head concave or rather straight up to tip of snout, in smaller specimens slightly convex, underside of head concave.
-Snout obtusely pointed, long, pointed, 29-37 % head length, 57-71 % postorbital length.
-Mouth terminal, 10-17 % SL, edge of mouth below posterior nostril, upper jaw on a level lower with rim of eye.
-Chin long, depressed globular swelling (somewhat deformed in the figured type specimen), about as long as eye.
-Teeth notched, 5-10/6-10.
-Nostrils separate, circular, anterior nostril on a level with centre of eye, posterior nostril on a level with lower rim of eye, distance between nostrils 1/4 - 1/3 their distance from rim of eye. Axis of nostrils cutting axis of head at an angle of about 60°. Diameter of eye 13-23 % head length, 25-46 % postorbital length.
-Opercular cleft curved, 32-42 % head length, 42-63 % head depth.
-Dorsal fin 28-33 fin-rays, base of D 21-24 % SL, anal fin 36-43 fin-rays, base of A 28-31 % SL, origin of D behind origin of A, end of D before end of A; predorsal length 58-62 % SL, preanal length 53-56 % SL.
-Pectoral fin pointed, extending almost to tip of pelvic fin, V closer to P than to A.
-Caudal fin pointed, scaled lobes pointed, extending to about 2/3 of entire fin. 75-80 scales in lateral line, 12 round caudal peduncle.
-Caudal peduncle 16-20 % SL, its depth 5-7 % SL, 27-35 % its length.
-Coloration »Uniform silvery«.
Type locality
»Boma, Lower Congo«, Democratic Republic of Congo (05°51’ S 13°03’ E).
Distribution
Congo basin.