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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



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Citation


Natugonza, V. & Musinguzi, L. (editors) 2021. Freshwater Biodiversity Portal for Uganda. www.freshwaterbiodiversity.go.ug, version (01/2021).

Contact


National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI)
P.O Box 343, Jinja, Uganda
Telephone: +256 434 121369 / +256 434 120484
General Inquiries: inquiries@freshwaterbiodiversity.go.ug
Technical Support: info@freshwaterbiodiversity.go.ug,
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