Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anabantiformes (Gouramies, snakeheads) >
Anabantidae (Climbing gouramies)
Etymology: Ctenopoma: Greek, kteis, ktenos = comb + Greek, poma, -atos = cover (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Peters.
Issue
The species Anabas machadoi Fowler, 1930 is considered valid in Eschmeyer (CofF ver. Mar. 2012: Ref. 89686). It is treated here a synonym of Ctenopoma multispine Peters, 1844 following Skelton et al. (1985: Ref. 79613).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 7.5; dH range: 5 - 20. Tropical; 24°C - 27°C (Ref. 2060); 10°S - 28°S
Africa: Lufira River, Lualaba-Upemba, Luapula-Moero in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Upper Zambezi in Zambia and Angola and Cubango-Okovango-Ngami in Angola and Botswana (Ref. 6803). Also known from the Kunene (Ref. 120641), the Kafue and rivers of coastal Mozambique (Ref. 7248, 52193), the Cuanza (Ref. 7248, 52193, 120641) and the Kwango, Kwilu and Kasai systems (middle Congo River basin) in Angola (Ref. 11970).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 13.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 52193)
Obligate air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Occurs in vegetated riverine backwaters, floodplain lagoons, swamps and isolated pans (Ref. 52193). It feeds on any suitably small creature, including insects, shrimps, and small fish; well camouflaged; hunts by slowly stalking prey (Ref. 52193). May congregate in groups to breed; the eggs are scattered around and not guarded (Ref. 52193). Can endure warm stagnant waters and is known to leave the water and move overland to alternative sites in wet weather or at night (Ref. 7248, 52193).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Skelton, P.H., 1993. A complete guide to the freshwater fishes of southern Africa. Southern Book Publishers. 388 p. (Ref. 7248)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial; bait: occasionally
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00501 (0.00200 - 0.01258), b=3.05 (2.82 - 3.28), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.8 ±0.61 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
