Nannocharax Chochamandai

📖 Overview

Nannocharax Chochamandai (Nannocharax chochamandai), first described by Katemo Manda, Snoeks, Decru, Brecko & Vreven, 2023 is a tiny fish in the family Distichodontidae (order Characiformes). Adults typically reach 3.80 cm in maximum length. It inhabits freshwater systems including rivers, streams, and lakes. Recorded depth range: 1 to 2 metres. It occurs in Tropical waters. It is broadly omnivorous, taking invertebrates, plant matter, and detritus.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12; Vertebrae: 37 - 38. Diagnosis: Nannocharax chochamandai can be distinguished from all its congeners by the following unique combination of characters: its body colouration, which consists of eight to 10 ovoid black blotches that overlie a longitudinal mid-lateral black stripes vs. largely unpigmented body with a black spot on the posterior portion of the caudal peduncle in N. hastatus, N. maculicauda and N. ocellicauda, six or seven rounded, well-spaced, mid-lateral black spots in N. gracilis, 17 black bars in N. fasciolaris, a broad black longitudinal band running on flanks along two rows of scales in N. latifasciatus, a thin black lateral band covering only the lateral line scales, extending from snout to median rays of caudal fin in N. taenia; a completely pored lateral line vs. incompletely pored in N. angolensis, N. dageti, N. lineostriatus, N. machadoi, N. minutus, N. monardi, N. multifasciatus, N. rubensteini, N. uniocellatus and N. wittei; 41-46 lateral line scales vs. 38-40 scales in N. altus, 37-40 scales in N. brevis, 36-37 scales in N. micros, 36 scales in N. ogoensis, 38 scales in N. pteron, 38-39 scales in N. schoutedeni, 52-57 scales in N. elongatus, 47-53 scales in N. lineomaculatus, 50-55 scales in N. niloticus and 50-56 scales in N. occidentalis; and a dorsal-fin origin that is situated before the pelvic-fin origin vs. origin situated behind the pelvic-fin origin in N. fasciatus, N. hadros, N. procatopus, N. reidi, N. rubrolabiatus, N. seyboldi and N. signifer or situated at the level of pelvic-fin origin in N. intermedius and N. parvus . Nannocharax chochamandai has a long distance between the anus and the articulation of the first anal-fin ray, 10.1-14.9% of standard length, vs. 0.9-1.9% in N. usongo and 2.2-3.8% in N. zebra; a high number of unbranched dorsal-fin rays, 11-12 vs. 9-10 in N. hollyi and N. ansorgii; a short pectoral fin, 21.6-28.4% of standard length and the dorsal fin translucent without band vs. 28.6-31.6% of standard length and dorsal fin with two brown bands in N. macropterus . Nannocharax chochamandai is most similar to N. luapulae and can be distinguished from it by a high number of branched soft rays in dorsal and anal fin, 11-12 and 8-9 vs. 9-10 and 5; a low number of lateral line scales, 41-46 vs. 49-55; a long pectoral fin, 21.6-28.4% of standard length, reaching the pelvic-fin insertion and being situated about mid-level of the dorsal-fin base, vs. 18.3-20.6% of standard length, not reaching the pelvic-fin insertion and being situated at the level of the anterior origin of the dorsal-fin base; a long pelvic fin, 24.3-30.6% of standard length, reaching the anal-fin insertion and being situated at the level of the last quarter of the dorsal-adipose fin distance, vs. 20.0-22.9% of standard length, not reaching the anal-fin insertion and being situated about mid-level the dorsal-adipose distance; and a long anal fin, 15.6-19.0% of standard length vs. 13.6-15.1% .

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Nannocharax Chochamandai is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; pelagic; pH range: 7.0 - 8.4; depth range 1 - 2 m . Tropical; 18°C - 29°C

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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