Zambesi parrotfish
📖 Overview
Nocturnal shoaling species; favors large river channels with a soft bottom and fringing vegetation . Found mainly in sheltered bays, lagoons and swampy areas; occurs also in typical sandy or rocky rivers . Feeds on bottom-living invertebrates and insect larvae at night . Known to migrate up tributary rivers of Lake Kariba during rainy season, though it is not yet clear whether this is a breeding migration . Breeds during summer rainy season; females carry up to 5,000 eggs .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28 - 37; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 23 - 27; Vertebrae: 39 - 41. Diagnosis: Dorsal fin up to 1.5 times in length of anal fin; origin of dorsal fin in advance of anal fin . Snout rounded, in front of mouth; eye well above mouth; chin with fleshy bulge . For distinguishing between specimens of Cyphomyrus discorhynchus en C. cubangoensis, the most useful anatomical characters are: longer dorsal fin length, longer anal fin length, higher number of dorsal fin rays and anal fin rays, and a higher caudal peduncle depth and caudal peduncle length ratio in C. discorhynchus than in C. cubangoensis . : fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Zambesi parrotfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical; 22°C - 24°C ; 11°S - 21°S known from the Lindi-Tshopo (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
bottom-living invertebrates (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Parrotfish · Zambezi Parrotfish |
| 🌍AFR | Zambesipapegaaivis · Zambezi-papegaaivis |
| 🌍CES | rypoun mosambický |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Круглопёрый цифомир |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyphomyrus cubangoensis | Pellegrin | 1936 | Synonym |
| Cyphomyrus smithersi | Määr | 1962 | Synonym |
| Hippopotamyrus cubangoensis | Pellegrin | 1936 | Synonym |
| Hippopotamyrus discorhynchus | Peters | 1852 | Synonym |
| Hippopotamyrus smithersi | Määr | 1962 | Synonym |
| Marcusenius cubangoensis | Pellegrin | 1936 | Synonym |
| Marcusenius discorhynchus | Peters | 1852 | Synonym |
| Marcusenius smithersi | Määr | 1962 | Synonym |
| Marcusenius tanganicanus | Boulenger | 1906 | Synonym |
| Mormyrus discorhynchus | Peters | 1852 | Synonym |
| Petrocephalus discorhynchus | Peters | 1852 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 131 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Zambesi parrotfish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.