Common names:
Unknown
None
Taxonomic tree
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish)
Order: Anabantiformes
Family: Anabantidae (Climbing gouramies)
Genus: Microctenopoma
Species: Microctenopoma damasi (Poll & Damas, 1939)
Number of Occurrancies: 20
Etymology (based on Sharpf & Lazara, 2020)
- Microctenopoma: micro-, small, referring to small size compared to other anabantids, especially Ctenopoma
- damasi: in honor of Hubert Damas (1910-1964), professor, University of Liège (Belgium), who collected type during one of his expeditions in central Africa (Poll prepared the descriptions but added Damas as co-author of the monograph in which they appeared, therefore making Damas the co-author of a name that honors himself).
Synonyms:click here to view synonyms
Type locality: Semliki River, Ishango, Democratic Republic of Congo. Syntypes at Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Resources and MRAC
General identification features for "Anabantoids"
- A pair of nostrils on each side of the head, the anterior nostril in form of a small tube
- Margin of the operculum is serrated
- Scales are large and ctenoid, the entire head is covered with scales
- Presence of an accessory breathing organ above the gills (labyrinth organs)
- The dody is short, moderately compressed with an interrupted lateral line forming an upper (anterior) and lower (posterior) series of lateral line scales
Distinguishing characters for the genus
- Dorsal fin with 17 or 18 spines; sub-operculum wsmooth or with feebly developed serrations
- Opercular spines weak, separated by a shallow notch
Distinguishing characters for the species: Only 1 species belongs to the genus Microctenopoma in Ugandan waters. The characters for the genus suffice to identify this species. On color, the species is dark brown to blackish; a black spot, without a sorrounding lighter area, at the base of the caudal fin
Additional remarks: This species has ability to utilise atmospheric oxygen in addition to carrying out aquatic respiration and can torelate foul and stagnant waters.
Distribution in Uganda: Lake Edward and affluent rivers
Occurence: Native
Habitat: Benthopelagic; the species appears to be more rstricted in rivers and in the vicinty of river-mouths than in the lake
Feeding: Unknown
Biology: Unknown
Economic importance/End use: Unknown
IUCN conservation status: click here to view IUCN status
Threats: Unknown
Main references
- Greenwood PH. 1966. The fishes of Uganda. The Uganda Society, Kampala. 131 pages.
- Sharpf C, Lazara J.K. 2020. Fish Name Etymology Database v4. www.etyfish.org