Mormyrus ovis Boulenger, 1898
Species overview
Large fish, body moderately elongate and deep, head strongly curved, snout short, blunt, mouth terminal, mandible quite big. No conspicuous cutaneous sensory organs below the eye. Caudal peduncle moderately deep, caudal fin large. Size observed: 305 mm SL, 362 mm TL.
M. ovis(measurements)
Taxonomic description
-Body both moderately elongate and deep, laterally compressed, cross section oblong-oval, body depth 20-28 % SL, greatest depth at origin of dorsal fin.
-Head length 20-24 % SL; head depth 14-20 % SL, 68-80 % body depth.
-Outline of back (dorsal fin inclusive) convex, upper profile of head up to tip of snout strongly convex, underside of head concave, outline of belly up to origin of anal fin slightly convex, a moderate step at base of pelvic fin.
-Snout funnel-shaped, bent down, blunt, sheep-like, 29-44 % head length, 56-81 % postorbital length.
-Mouth moderate, 14-19 % head length, terminal, edge of mouth far away from anterior nostril, edge of upper jaw on a level lower edge base of pectoral fin.
-Chin with moderate submental swelling, lower jaw deeper than upper part of snout.
-Teeth very small, notched, 5/8.
-Nostrils separate, oval, anterior to nostril on a level with centre of eye, posterior nostril slightly below anterior. Axis of nostrils cutting axis of head at an angle of about 30°.
-Eye moderate, slightly oval, its diameter 17-22 % head length, 31-44 % postorbital length. No conspicuous tuberous organs below the eye.
-Opercular cleft curved, 29-52 % head length, 42-57 % head depth.
-Dorsal fin 53-55 fin-rays, base of D 44-51 % SL, anal fin 22-23 rays, base of A 15-19 % SL, origin of D far before origin of A, opposite base of pelvic fin, end of D far behind end of A; predorsal length 35-39 % SL, preanal length 52-55 % SL.
-Pectoral fin obtusely pointed, extending to base of pelvic fin. V is about equally distant from P and A.
-Caudal fin obtusely pointed, the scaled lobes covering at least 2/3 of the entire fin. 90-92 scales in lateral line; 16 round caudal peduncle.
-Caudal peduncle 12-22% SL, its depth 5-6 % SL 25-52 % its length.
-Coloration »Pale brownish«.
Type locality
»Upoto« Haut Congo, (2° 00 ‘ S 21° 30 ‘ E) Democratic Republic of Congo.
Distribution
Upper Congo basin.