Inexact type locality for this species is given as "between Benguela and Bihé, Angola" probably referring to the Angolan highlands in the current provinces of Benguela, Huambo and Bié (Kramer & Swartz, 2010). The mountains in this region give rise to several major river systems, including the Cuanza, Cuango, Cuvo, Cunene as well as the Zambesi. See Fishbase for museum records and localities.
Found in rocky habitats in flowing waters (Ref. 7248, 52193). Feeds on small aquatic invertebrates (Ref. 7248, 52193) such as insect larvae (Ref. 7248).
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Rainer Froese, FishBase |
| Source | http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=8766 |
Major Threats
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| Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/167954 |
From Boulenger 1909, pp. 73-74.
Depth of body equal to length of head, 4 1/2 to 5 times in total length. Head once and 1/5 as long as deep; snout rounded, 1/4 length of head; mouth small, terminal, but situated below level of eye; a feeble mental swelling; teeth notched, 7 in upper jaw, 8 in lower; anterior nostril on a level with centre of eye, posterior lower down and separated from eye by a space equal to its distance from the anterior; eye a little shorter than snout. Dorsal 19, originating above 5th or 6th ray of anal, its length about 2 1/2 times in its distance from head. Anal 24-26, equally distant from base of ventral and from base of caudal, or a little nearer latter. Pectoral obtusely pointed, 2/3 length of head, once and 2/3 as long as ventral, not quite reaching base of latter. Caudal with rounded lobes. Caudal peduncle 2 1/2 to 3 times as long as deep, 2/3 to 4/5 length of head. 67-72 scales in lateral line,13-14 / 17-18 in transverse series on body, 11/10 between dorsal and anal, 16 round caudal peduncle. Brownish; a blackish vertical bar between origin of dorsal and anal.
Total length 110 millim. Angola.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Sullivan, John P., Boulenger, G.A., Africhthy |
| Source | http://mormyrids.lifedesks.org/pages/2073 |
Least Concern (LC)
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| Rights holder/Author | Rainer Froese, FishBase |
| Source | http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=8766 |
This is likely to be a species complex. However, as it is currently recognized, this species is found from Angola to Mozambique, as well as Malawi, Namibia and Botswana.
Central Africa: Hippopotamyrus ansorgii is known from the southern tributaries of the Congo River basin. It is also known from the Cuanza River, Angola.
Eastern Africa: It occurs in the Ruo River, a tributary of the Lower Shire River in Malawi where it is generally rare (Bell-Cross 1976). It is, however, common in the Ruo River above the Zoa falls (a 60 m barrier separating the Ruo fishes from the Lower Zambezi fauna) (Skelton 2001).
Southern Africa: It is present in the Cunene in Angola and Namibia, east into the Okavango and This species is known from upper Zambezi. The H. ansorgii complex is widespread in the upper Zambezi system. Isolated populations occur in Zimbabwe and Mozambique in the Pungwe and Buzi Rivers.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/167954 |
Conservation Actions
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/167954 |
Africa: Cunene, Okavango, upper Zambezi, Buzi and Pungwe rivers; an isolated population occurs in the Ruo River (lower Zambezi system) in Malawi; also in Cuanza River, Angola (Ref. 52193). In the Congo basin known from the Kwango in Angola (Ref. 11970). Possibly also in the Inkisi (lower Congo), Lufira and Luwombwa (upper Congo basin) (Ref. 12818) but this needs confirmation.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Rainer Froese, FishBase |
| Source | http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=8766 |
Inexact type locality for this species is given as "between Benguela and Bihé, Angola" probably referring to the Angolan highlands in the current provinces of Benguela, Huambo and Bié (Kramer & Swartz, 2010). The mountains in this region give rise to several major river systems, including the Cuanza, Cuango, Cuvo, Cunene as well as the Zambesi. See Fishbase for museum records and localities.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Sullivan, John P., Sullivan, John P., Africhthy |
| Source | http://mormyrids.lifedesks.org/pages/2073 |
Southern Africa.
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18 - 19; Anal spines: 0; Analsoft rays: 24 - 26
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Armi G. Torres, FishBase |
| Source | http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=8766 |
