African bonytongue

📖 Overview

Obligate air-breathing ; Obligate air-breathing , able to survive in deoxygenated waters; the hardiness of this fish, together with its great growth rate make it a candidate for aquaculture in Africa and it has been transported to a number of countries for this purpose . Escapees from ponds into the wild resulted in established populations, which form the basis for fisheries . Maximum observed length in Lake Kainji: 100 cm, observed weight: 10000 g . Young found in swampy places among aquatic vegetation . Adults live in open water of rivers and lakes, in both the pelagic and littoral zone . Feeds on mud , phytoplankton , vegetable debris and small invertebrates . The only plankton-feeder of the Osteoglossidae . Suprabranchial organ has a sensory function and a mechanic function in concentrating little food particles . During breeding, mature adults create a circular nest in swamps . Young leave the nest after a few days and are guarded by the male .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 32 - 37; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 34 - 39; Vertebrae: 66 - 69. Elongated and robust body, its height 3.5-5 times in SL . Relatively short head, its length 3.5-5 times in standard length . Dermal bones of cranium deeply carved by large sensory pits . Lips thick; dermal flap on border of gill cover . Teeth conical . Dorsal and anal fins spineless, elongated and posteriorly positioned, ending close to the small, rounded caudal fin . Caudal peduncle very short . Scales strong, thick, large , oval, with exposed portion thick and corrugated, with a more or less vermiform sculpture . 34-40 lateral-line scales, 2.5/6 scales on lateral side of body before pelvic fin, 5-6 scales between dorsal and anal fin . Lateral line a straight line from above operculum to middle of caudal peduncle . Number of gill rakers increases with size: 33 (young) to 98 on ceratobranchial and 21 (young) to 76 on epibranchial . Young specimens with external gills . Coloration a uniform gray, brown or bronze , darker during period of reproduction . Young specimens often with dark longitudinal bands and scales with an oval spot in posterior zone of anal and dorsal fins .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for African bonytongue is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

Breeds in the wet season in swamps and floodplains , building a circular nest about 1 m in diameter and 20 to 60 cm deep . The rim of the nest is a high wall formed out of plant chunks, about 15-20 cm thick and projecting above the water surface; the bottom is a clean platform of clay or mud; after spawning the fish leave by way of a hole in the wall through which, 5 days later, the young leave the nest and are guarded by the male . Also Ref. 3074, 10609, 36900.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; pelagic; depth range 1 - ? m . Tropical; 25°C - 30°C ; 16°N - 3°N, 17°W - 37°E native in all basins of the Sahelo-Sudanese region, the Senegal, Gambia, Corubal, Volta, Ouémé, Niger, Bénoue, Chad and Nile basins and Lake Turkana (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"African bonytongue is an edible species."

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient	Amount
Protein	16.8 g
Omega-3 (total)	449 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for African bonytongue has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

📊 Population Dynamics

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language	Common Names
🇬🇧English	African Arowana · African bonytongue · Bony Tongue · Heterotis · No name · Stoneside
🌍AKA	Trepake
🇸🇦Arabic	Grafish · N'golô · Nauk · Nawak Nili · Ngoll · Ngollo · Noag · Nok
🌍BAM	Fana
🌍CES	Fantang nilský
🇩🇰Danish	Afrikansk Knogletunge
🇩🇪German	Westafrikanischer Knochenzüngler
🌍EWE	Efa · Fa
🇫🇮Finnish	Afrikanarapaima
🇫🇷French	Poisson sans nom
🌍HAU	Bahli · Bali · Balli · Begigi · Berigi · Dan Shakata · Nakantala
🌍IBO	Kpokpo
🌍KAU	Kawi
🇵🇱Polish	Heterotis
🌍SWA	Muzalazala
🇸🇪Swedish	Fanntang
🌍WOL	N'diaguel
🌍YOR	Afo · Aika · Alapa · Kano

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name	Author	Year	Status
Clupisudis niloticus	Cuvier	1829	Synonym
Heterotis adansonii	Cuvier	1829	Synonym
Heterotis ehrenbergii	Valenciennes	1847	Synonym
Sudis adansonii	Cuvier	1829	Synonym
Sudis niloticus	Rüppell	1829	Heterotypic

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 65 records indexed .

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