Nurse tetra
📖 Overview
Inhabits rivers, lakes, irrigation canals and fringing vegetation; feeds on zooplankton, Caridina, insects, snails and vegetation . Dwarf populations are described in lake basins: Lake Turkana, B. n. nana Pellegrin, 1935 and Lake Chad, B. n. dageti Blache and Miton, 1960 (see Ref. 2880).
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 13 - 18. Diagnosis: multicuspid teeth set in two rows and not overlapping the jaws when the mouth is closed; teeth stout, not compressed; eyes with well-developed vertical adipose lids; slender body; head not flattened . Dorsal fin origin at about same level as pelvic fin insertion , about halfway between caudal fin and snout . Fronto-parietal fontanel absent in adults, sometimes pore-like in juveniles, disappearing with growth; sexual dimorphism affecting anal fin shape; 24-34 lateral line scales; 5.5 scales between lateral line and dorsal fin; 10-15 anal fin branched rays; 14-20 gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch; 8 teeth in outer premaxillary row . Snout short, more than 3x head length; head length/snout length 3.6-4.3; 10-11.5 predorsal scales; flanks without lateral band; adults medium-sized . : fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Nurse tetra is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; pelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 7.8; dH range: ? - 30; potamodromous . Tropical; 23°C - 27°C West Africa (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
zooplankton, Caridina, insects, snails and vegetation (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Characin · Nangnang Fish · Nurse Tetra |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alestes bouboni | Roman | 1973 | Synonym |
| Alestes dageti | Blache & Miton | 1960 | Synonym |
| Alestes erythropterus | Pellegrin | 1907 | Synonym |
| Alestes nurse | Rüppell | 1832 | Synonym |
| Alestes nurse nana | Pellegrin | 1935 | Synonym |
| Alestes rueppellii | Günther | 1864 | Synonym |
| Alestes ruppellii | Günther | 1864 | Synonym |
| Brachyalestes nurse | Rüppell | 1832 | Synonym |
| Brachyalestes rueppellii | Günther | 1864 | Synonym |
| Brachyalestes ruppellii | Günther | 1864 | Synonym |
| Brycinus bouboni | Roman | 1973 | Synonym |
| Brycinus dageti | Blache & Miton | 1960 | Synonym |
| Chalceus guile | Valenciennes | 1850 | Synonym |
| Myletes nurse | Rüppell | 1832 | Synonym |
🦠 Common Diseases
The following diseases are known to affect Nurse tetra.
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 211 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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