Smalltoothed pellonula
📖 Overview
Adults are found chiefly in rivers and streams, also man-made and natural lakes ; also in estuaries and lagoons . Apparently able to tolerate moderate or even quite high salinities . They form enormous shoals in both inshore and offshore regions of Lake Kainji . Adults feed on terrestrial and aquatic insects, but also ostracods and entomostracans; stomachs containing clupeid fish scales may represent cannibalism . Reproduction occurs in rivers and lakes, and may be also in estuaries and coastal lagoons . Mature individuals breed from July to September in Lake Volta .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 19; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 16 - 22; Vertebrae: 39 - 44. Diagnosis: Body slender to moderately deep, its depth 17-30% of standard length; scutes beginning behind base of first pectoral finray, with 8-15 pre-pelvic and 6-10 post-pelvic scutes, and a total of 17-23 scutes, first pre-pelvic scute as long as following scutes lacking ascending arms; lower jaw very slightly projecting, teeth at symphysis only slightly enlarged; pre-maxillary teeth small and inward pointing, only the tips usually apparent, no strongly marked indentation at centre of jaw; lower gillrakers 20-35, equal to or longer than corresponding gill filaments; silver stripe along flank . It resembles Pellonula vorax, which has larger and straighter teeth, often pointing forward, and scutes before pectoral fin bases . The absence of large canine teeth in upper jaw distinguishes it from Odaxothrissa; Microthrissa species are deep-bodied and have a much more slender maxilla compared to Pellonula leonensis . : fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Smalltoothed pellonula is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Reproduction occurs in rivers and lakes, and may be also in estuaries and coastal lagoons .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic; anadromous . Tropical; 17°N - 5°S, 18°W - 24°E West Africa (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
terrestrial and aquatic insects, but also ostracods and entomostracans; stomachs containing clupeid
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microthrissa afzeliusi | Johnels | 1954 | Synonym |
| Microthrissa miri | Daget | 1954 | Synonym |
| Microthrissa normanae | Whitehead | 1986 | Synonym |
| Microthrissa normani | Whitehead | 1986 | Synonym |
| Pellonula afseliusi | Johnels | 1954 | Synonym |
| Pellonula afzelinsi | Johnels | 1954 | Synonym |
| Pellonula afzeliusi | Johnels | 1954 | Synonym |
| Pellonula afzeliusi miri | Daget | 1954 | Synonym |
| Pellonula afzeliuzi | Johnels | 1954 | Synonym |
| Pellonula azeliusi | Johnels | 1954 | Synonym |
| Pellonula leonensis miri | Daget | 1954 | Synonym |
| Pellonula miri | Daget | 1954 | Synonym |
| Pelonula afzeliusi | Johnels | 1954 | Synonym |
| Pelonula leonensis | Boulenger | 1916 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 212 records indexed .
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