Myomyrus pharao Poll and Taverne, 1967
Species overview
Large fish, both moderately elongate and deep, dorsal fin long, originating posterior to pelvic fin, anal fin short, ending slightly anterior to D; snout rather truncate, slightly protruding mouth which is subterminal, chin with short, conical, pointed barbel. Head with clusters of cutaneous sensory organs. Size observed: 297 mm SL, 342 mm TL.
M. pharao(measurements)
Taxonomic description
-Body moderately elongate, laterally compressed, cross section oblong-oval, body depth 21-24 % SL, greatest depth at origin of dorsal fin.
-Head length 22-26 % SL; head depth 18-20 % SL, 78-89 % body depth.
-Outline of back (dorsal fin inclusive) convex, upper profile of head convex,though rather straight between neck and region of nostrils, on neck and above nostrils feebly concave, underside of head concave; outline of belly up to base of anal fin slightly convex, base of A straight up to caudal peduncle.
-Snout short, truncate, 23-27 % head length, 36-45 % postorbital length.
-Mouth small, 8-12 % head length, subterminal, its edge extending to a line below posterior nostril, edge of upper jaw on a level between base of pectoral fin and underside of head.
-Chin with moderate submental swelling and a short, conical, pointed barbel, »beard of pharaoh«; lower jaw less deep than upper part of snout.
-Teeth in upper jaw conical, 5-6, in lower jaw 4, compressed and the median pair very large and incisor like, projecting over the gums.
-Nostrils separate, circular or somewhat irregular in shape, on the axis of the head or nearly so, feebly tilted forwards.
-Eye small, circular, its diameter 8-12 % head length, 13-20 % postorbital length.
-Opercular cleft slightly curved, 24-27 % head length, 30-36 % head depth.
-Dorsal fin 37-42 fin-rays, base of D 42-50 % SL, anal fin 25-26 rays, base of A 24-28 % SL, origin of D far before origin of A but behind origin of pelvic fin, end of D behind end of A; predorsal length 39-46 % SL, preanal length 52-57 % SL.
-Pectoral fin obtusely pointed, extending nearly to middle of pelvic fin. V is distinctly closer to P than to A.
-Caudal fin obtusely pointed, the scaled lobes extending over 3/4 of the entire fin. 80-86 scales in lateral line; 20 round caudal peduncle.
-Caudal peduncle 11-13 % SL, its depth 5-6 % SL, 38-43 % its length.
-Coloration Dark brown, belly somewhat lighter, slightly countershaded.
Type locality
»Kinsuku, en aval de Kinshasa, fl. Congo«. Democratic Republic of Congo. (Kinshasa: 4° 18 ‘ S 15° 18 ‘ E)
Distribution
»Lower Congo basin«.