Mormyrus longirostris Peters, 1852

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 3
Species With Barcodes: 1

Found in caves and muddy areas, also hides among weeds (Ref. 13337). Favours quiet deep water with a soft muddy bottom (Ref. 52193). Forms shoals (Ref. 13337, 52193). Feeds on weeds (Ref. 5595) and insects but may also feed on small fishes (Ref. 5595, 52193) and fish eggs (Ref. 52193), blood worms (Ref. 13337), small crustaceans and mollusks (Ref. 13337, 52193). Active mainly at night; breeds during the rainy season, moving upstream in rivers after flood spates have receded (Ref. 52193). Migrations appears to occur at irregular interval as this fish is not a powerful swimmer and would not be able to cope with very high water current (Ref. 13337). Females carry 10,000-70,000 eggs; can give a mild shock when caught (Ref. 7248, 52193).

This species is found from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania to Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Central Africa: Mormyrus longirostris is known from the Mweru-Luapula-Bangweulu system.

Eastern Africa: It is present in Lake Malawi and affluent streams, throughout the Shire river and Lake Chiuta, as well as the Rufiji and Ruvuma rivers and Lake Rukwa in Tanzania, and Lake Tanganyika.

Southern Africa: It is known from the Cunene, Okavango, This species is known from upper Zambezi, Buzi and Pungwe Rivers. Isolated populations are also known from the Ruo River (Lower Zambezi system).

Africa: lower and middle Zambezi, Buzi, Pungwe (Ref. 52193), lower Sabi and Ludi Rivers (Ref. 42505), Luapula-Moero-Bangwelo (Zambian Congo system) (Ref. 42505, 52193). Also known from the Ruvuma and Rufiji rivers in Tanzania (Ref. 7248, 52193), lakes Malawi, Tanganyika (Ref. 4967, 52193) and Rukwa, and other eastward flowing rivers in Tanzania (Ref. 4967).