Marcusenius rheni (Fowler, 1936)
Species overview
Medium-sized fish, body moderately elongate and deep, head uneven blunt-snouted, caudal peduncle rather short and deep; dark brown without particular markings. Size observed: 166 mm SL.
M. rheni(measurements)
Taxonomic description
-Body moderately elongate, laterally compressed, moderately deep, body depth 26-30 % SL, greatest depth somewhere above middle of body.
-Head moderately long, head length 27-28 % SL, head depth 18-20 % SL, 66-71 % body depth.
-Outlines of back and belly slightly convex, upper profile of head convex, underside of head concave.
-Snout obtusely pointed with low upper jaw and rather bulky lower jaw, 21-22 % head length, 32-37 % postorbital length.
-Mouth terminal, 18-21 % head length, its edge below anterior nostril, upper jaw on a level with centre eye, lower jaw on a level with lower rim of eye.
-Chin big with short globular, coriaceous swelling.
-Teeth conical, 5/5-6.
-Nostrils separate, circular, anterior nostril above centre of eye, posterior nostril on a level with lower rim of eye, axis of nostrils cutting axis of head at an angle of about 60°.
-Eye diameter 13-14 % head length, 20-21 % postorbital length.
-Opercular cleft slightly curved, 44-46 % head length, 60-66 % head depth.
-Dorsal fin 25-26 fin-rays, base of D 20-22 % SL, anal fin 29-32 rays, base of A 24-25 % SL, origin of D behind origin of A, its end before end of A; predorsal length 66-68 % SL, preanal length 64-66 % SL.
-Pectoral fin obtusely pointed, extending nearly to middle of pelvic fin. V is slightly closer to P than to A.
-Caudal fin obtusely pointed, scaled lobes obtusely pointed, wide, extending over more than half the length of the entire fin. 50-55 scales in lateral line; 16 round caudal peduncle.
-Caudal peduncle 14-16 % SL, its depth 7 % SL, 48-50% its length.
-Coloration »Largely dark sooty brown, head darker or blackish brown. Fins all dull brown, with olivaceous tints. Iris dark gray«.
Type locality
»Lake Victoria at Kitala, Uganda«.
Distribution
Victoria Lake (type locality)