African Pike Characin

Diagnosis: scales large and hard; peculiar jaws; no canines; 6 scales around caudal peduncle (Ref. 2936, 86396). 46-48 (Ref. 81638) or 45-50 (Ref. 2936, 86396) scales in lateral line. 1.0 (Ref. 81638) or 1.5-2.0 (Ref. 86396) scales above lateral line. 2.0-2.5 scales below lateral line (Ref. 86396).Description: body depth 6.5-8.7x SL; head length 3.7-4.5x SL; head 2.9-3.8x longer than wide; eye comprised from 4 to 5.3 and snout from 2.4 to 2.8x head length; caudal peduncle 6.1-8.6x longer than deep (Ref. 2936, 86396). Body elongate, depth 0.21-0.27x SL, slightly laterally compressed; anterior portion of premaxilla somewhat curved ventrally and overlaps anterior portion of dentary; premaxilla and dentary with 2 rows of teeth, both distinctly separated (Ref. 81638). Teeth of outer rows distinctly larger than those of inner row and bicuspid with posterior cusp more developed (Ref. 2936, 81638, 86396) and proximate teeth in contact (Ref. 81638). Teeth of upper jaw overlap those of lower jaw in closed mouth; scales ctenoid, plate-like and vertically elongate, becoming relatively smaller and more typically scale-like on posterior portion of caudal peduncle and basal portion of median caudal rays; 1 scale between dorsal fin origin and lateral line (excluding median scale); 1 scale between anal fin origin and lateral line (excluding median scale); D: III,9 rarely II,10 with first ray very short; A: III,8, rarely II,8 or III,9 with first ray often very short; pelvic rays typically with 7 branched rays and lateral ray unbranched (rarely 8 branched rays) (Ref. 81638). Coloration: preserved specimens tan to light brown, darker on snout and dorsally on head; mmid-dorsal region of body with posteriorly attenuating, dark, median band beginning at rear of head and extending about two thirds of distance to origin of dorsal fin; moderate to larger-sized individuals with somewhat lighter band on dorsolateral surface of body from rear of head at level of horizontal through dorsal limit of eye posteriorly to base of dorsal fin; all but smallest individuals with dark band along mid-dorsal line from posterior end of dorsal-fin base to rear of caudal peduncle; posterior margin of scales with dark pigmentation forming a reticulate pattern in all but smallest individuals; series of irregular, vertically elongate spots extend from behind head to under origin of adipose fin, spots more rotund posteriorly; remainder of caudal peduncle with mid-lateral dark band continuous with darker batch of pigmentation on rear of caudal peduncle and basal portions of caudal fin; dorsal portion of iris and base of caudal fin yellow-tinged in life (Ref. 81638). More details on fin coloration can be found in Ref. 81638 and Ref. 86396.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 10 - 12

Micropredator mainly feeding on scales (Ref. 9236). Feeds on large insects and fish (Ref. 7020).

Feeds on large insects and fish (Ref. 7020).

fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial