African sicklefish
📖 Overview
Neritic species . Essentially marine, often living in groups over sandy and muddy bottoms , between 20 and 50 m depth, and entering coastal lagoons where sexual maturation begins . Feeds of fish eggs, benthic invertebrates and detritus .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 8 - 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 18; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 20 - 21. Diagnosis: body deep and strongly compressed, its anterior profile very steep up to dorsal-fin origin, and strongly compressed; head small; snout short; mouth small, terminal, strongly protrusible, with fleshy lips; teeth slender and pointed, set in bands in upper jaw; roof of mouth toothless; dorsal fin deeply notched; 1st dorsal fin spine small, forward-pointing and visible only in young individuals; pectorals falcate, very long, their tips almost reaching to caudal-fin base; hind margin of caudal fin slightly rounded; pelvic fins thoracic; scales finely ctenoid, covering body, bases of dorsal and anal fins and head, except snout and preopercle; preopercular margin denticulate; lateral line strongly arched . Coloration: silvery grey, darker on back, almost white on belly; sides with a series of 8 brown, more or less faded vertical bars, always more distinct in young individuals .: short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for African sicklefish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for African sicklefish is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Reproduction data for African sicklefish is currently being compiled.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; depth range 10 - 75 m , usually 20 - 50 m . Tropical; 30°N - 17°S, 27°W - 13°E West African coast, from Senegal to Angola (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | African Sicklefish |
| 🌍CES | lesklec africký |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Afrikansk seglfisk |
| 🌍EWE | Du · Gbagbadza |
| 🇫🇷French | Forgeron ailé · Saint Pierre raye |
| 🌍GLV | Tapandaro |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Afrikaanse sikkelvis |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Peixe-pá-africano |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Африканская дрепана |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Catemo Africano |
| 🌍WOL | Tapandar |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 非洲雞籠鯧 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cryptosmilia luna | Cope | 1867 | Synonym |
| Drepane punctata africana | Osório | 1892 | Synonym |
| Drepane punctata octofasciata | Pellegrin | 1905 | Synonym |
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 676 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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