Whitehead's sawtooth pellonuline (Potamothrissa whiteheadi) is a ray-finned fish of the family Dorosomatidae. It inhabits freshwater waters in pelagic environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 4.7 cm. With a trophic level of 3.1, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms. It is assessed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List.
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 19 - 22; Vertebrae: 42. Diagnosis: Body slender, its depth 22-25% of standard length; pre-pelvic scutes not strongly keeled, beginning under or behind base of last pectoral finray, 8-10 pre-pelvic and 6-9 post-pelvic scutes, belly rounded; snout bluntly rounded; lower jaw not projecting, exactly meeting tip of upper jaw when mouth closed, deepest at mid-point of jaw, with small saw-like teeth on each side; pre-maxillae with small teeth pointing downward; maxilla very slender, its blade over 3 times as long as deep, upper edge ridged, lower edge without denticulations; posterior supra-maxilla minute, virtually without anterior shaft; lower gillrakers 14-17; silver stripe along flank, narrower anteriorly . The presence of small horny denticles on snout and edges of mouth on the skin of the maxillary is typical for this species . It closely resembles Potamothrissa obtusirostris, which lacks dermal denticles on the snout and has more post-pelvic scutes, 9-12 vs. 6-9; Potamothrissa acutirostris has a pointed snout and more gillrakers, 16-18 vs. 14-17 . Other pellonulines lack saw-like teeth at the sides of the lower jaw . : fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
Behavioural data for Whitehead's sawtooth pellonuline is currently being reviewed.
Freshwater; pelagic. Tropical; 2°S - 5°S
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 3 records indexed .
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