Churchill
📖 Overview
Occurs in shallow and muddy waters, sheltered bays, in lagoons, and swampy areas; prefers quiet parts of rivers where there is abundant vegetation . Forms shoals within quiet reaches of rivers and floodplains, and with other species with identical electric organ discharge (EOD) waveforms . Feeds on insects, found on river bed or in marginal vegetation , on insect larvae and other invertebrates at night . Known to undergo upriver migration which may well be correlated with breeding . Breeds during the rainy season, possibly moving upstream to suitable sites . An unconfirmed report claims the males are territorial and build a nest . Caught in nets for food (5214). Oviparous .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18 - 22; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 25 - 28. : fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Churchill is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous . Tropical; 23°C - 26°C ; 3°S - 27°S East Africa: Rovuma River system including Niassa Reserve, and western confluences to Lake Malawi (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
insects, found on river bed or in marginal vegetation (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Churchill Snoutfish |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mormyrus catostoma | Günther | 1866 | Synonym |
| Petrocephalus catastoma | Günther | 1866 | Synonym |
| Petrocephalus catostoma catostoma | Günther | 1866 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 71 records indexed .
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