Sharptooth tetra
📖 Overview
Shoals in clear, flowing or standing, open water; appears to co-exist with the tigerfish Hydrocynus forskalii in open water although it is heavily preyed upon by that predator, particularly those shoals of tigerfish ranging up to 45 cm in length . Omnivorous, often feeding from surface waters on winged insects; also takes insect larvae, crustaceans and eggs and fry of other fish . Matures after a year; partial spawner of moderate fecundity, with usually fewer than 700 eggs per female; shoals migrate upstream after first summer rains; breeds throughout the summer months; used as forage fish and as bait for tigerfish and pike .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 17 - 20. Diagnosis: inner dentary teeth multicuspid; 14-17 anal fin branched rays; dorsal fin apical tip black; scales of flank without melanophores concentrated along basal margin, pigment diffuse or absent . : fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Sharptooth tetra is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; pelagic; pH range: 6.2 - 8.0; dH range: ? - 25; potamodromous . Tropical; 22°C - 26°C east coast rivers south to the Pongolo (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Elongated Robber · Sharptooth Tetra · Silver Robber · Silver Tetra |
| 🌍AFR | Silwer-rower |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | Had El Asnan |
| 🌍CES | afrotetra ostrozubá |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Spidstandet Tetra |
| 🇩🇪German | Spitzzahnsalmler |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Swiecik Ostrozebny |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Острозубый микралест |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alestes acutidens | Peters | 1852 | Synonym |
| Brachyalestes acutidens | Peters | 1852 | Synonym |
| Micralestes acutidens neglectus | Boulenger | 1920 | Synonym |
| Micralestes brevianalis | Blache & Miton | 1960 | Synonym |
| Micralestes luluae | Fowler | 1930 | Synonym |
| Micralestes neglectus | Boulenger | 1920 | Synonym |
| Petersius neglectus | Boulenger | 1920 | Synonym |
| Virilia brevianalis | Blache & Miton | 1960 | Synonym |
🦠 Common Diseases
The following diseases are known to affect Sharptooth tetra.
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 431 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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