Lacustricola Pygmaeus

📖 Overview

Lacustricola Pygmaeus (Lacustricola pygmaeus) is a ray-finned fish of the family Poeciliidae. It inhabits freshwater waters in pelagic environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 2.1 cm. With a trophic level of 3, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 15; Vertebrae: 24 - 26. Diagnosis: Lacustricola pygmaeus is distinguished from L. centralis, L. jobaerti, L. johnstoni, L. jubbi, L. katangae, L. macrurus, L. matthesi, L. mediolateralis, L. moeruensis, L. myaposae, L. nigrolateralis, and L. stiassnyae by the possession of banded dorsal, anal, and caudal fins in males and also by the possession of a pointed premaxilla ascending process, in which the premaxilla medial surface is slightly convex . It is further distinguished from L. hutereaui, L. chobensis, and L. petnehazyi by an inconspicuous reticulate pattern on scale margins vs. conspicuous; banded anal, dorsal, and caudal fins in females vs. hyaline; faint bands in the middle rays of caudal fin of male vs. conspicuous bands; rounded caudal fin in males vs. elliptical; bright green-blue colour restricted to the area delimited by some of the flank scales vs. bright green colouration not restricted to scale area in L. chobensis and L. petnehazyi, and absent in L. hutereaui; quadrate posterior margin with a deep concavity vs. convex or about straight; first dorsal-fin ray inserted in a vertical to second and third anal-fin ray vs. fourth to eight . It is further distinguished from L. hutereaui by the absence of maxilla ventral sharp process vs. presence; retroarticular about the same size as anguloarticular ventral process vs. shorter; posteroventral extension on lachrymal vs. rectangular, without posteroventral extension; infraorbital canal anterior portion open, with three to four neuromasts vs. closed, with four pores; mandibular canal open, with two small neuromasts vs. closed, with four pores; head neuromasts placed in shallow grooves or on the same level as head surface vs. on deep grooves; possession of chromatophores close to eye, along infraorbital region vs. absence of chromatophores; posttemporal ventral arm not ossified vs. ossified; and by a cleithrum posterodorsal bone flap rounded vs. sinuous . Lacustricola pygmaeus is further distinguished from L. petnehazyi by the possession of 20-22 scales on longitudinal series vs. 24-27, and from L. chobensis by the possession of 26-30 caudal-fin rays vs. 21-24; 10-12 dorsal-fin rays vs. 6-8; and chromatophores along whole mid-body line of flank, forming an inconspicuous line vs. conspicuous .

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Lacustricola Pygmaeus is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Lacustricola Pygmaeus is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Lacustricola Pygmaeus is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; pelagic. Tropical known from Okavango Delta, Chobe River, in Botswana and Namibia and swamps of the Barotse floodplains in the upper Zambezi in Zambia, and Bukalo Channel in Namibia (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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