Marcusenius rhodesianus (Määr, 1962)
Species overview
Medium-sized fish, body moderately deep, head uneven blunt-snouted, unpaired fins quite different in length of base, eye underneath axis of body. Little known species of which the type is lost. Size observed: 247 mm SL, 268 mm TL.
M. rhodesianus(measurements)
Taxonomic description
-Body moderately elongate and deep, laterally compressed, body depth 28 % SL, greatest depth near anal fin.
-Head length 19 % SL.
-Outline of back slightly convex, upper profile of head convex, underside of head slightly convex, outline of belly more or less straight.
-Snout obtusely pointed, 27 % head length, 28 % postorbital length.
-Mouth terminal, position of edge of mouth and position of upper jaw not reliably known.
-Chin with small globular swelling.
-Teeth conical, 4/6, »the pairs of front teeth are notably stronger than the others « Nostrils separate, circular, position of nostrils not reliably known, about 45° tilted to axis of head.
-Eye diameter 18 % head length, 32 % postorbital length.
-Opercular cleft curved.
-Dorsal fin 19 fin-rays, » its length is little over 3 times its distance from the head«; anal fin 30 rays »and is nearer to the base of the caudal fin than to the base of the pelvic«. Origin of D behind origin of A, end of D before end of A; predorsal and preanal length not indicated.
-Pectoral fin pointed, not extending to base of pelvic fin. V is closer to P than to A.
-Caudal fin obtusely pointed, scaled lobes 2/3 as long as entire fin. 61 scales in lateral line; 12 round caudal peduncle. Length of caudal peduncle 16 % SL, its depth 43 % its length.
-Coloration »The body of the specimen preserved in formalin, is dark brown in colour, with irregular darker blotches; the head, especially the upper part of it, is darker than the body; on caudal peduncle a band of disconnected spots and dashes runs along the lateral line«.
(Type lost, description based on the original diagnosis and the only illustration, fig. 2.)
Type locality
»Lake McIlwaine, Southern Rhodesia, Tiger Bay, 25 miles south of Salisbury«. To day: Harare, Zimbabwe.
Distribution
Zimbabwe, type locality: Lake McIlwaine 17° 50' S 31° 00' E.