Marcusenius pongolensis (Fowler 1934)

Onglets principaux

EOL Text

Biology:

Occurs in fast-flowing, major, perennial rivers, bordered by dense subtropical or tropical vegetation and with high water conductivity. Usually found during the day below undercut river banks, especially in dense network of tree roots. Has been observed high up in river systems with rapid water flow and rocky substrate in Swaziland (Ref. 75962).

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Rights holder/AuthorArmi G. Torres, FishBase
Sourcehttp://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=65670

Range Description:

Limpopo River south to the Mhlatuze River, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorInternational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Sourcehttp://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/63324

Africa: coastal rivers draining into the Indian Ocean, ranging from the Incomati system in the north (Mpumalanga Province of South Africa, and Mozambique) to the Mhlatuze System in KwaZulu-Natal (> 28°S) as its southern limit, including the Pongola which is the type river.

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorArmi G. Torres, FishBase
Sourcehttp://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=65670

Southeastern Africa: rivers draining into the Indian Ocean.

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorFishWise Professional, FishWise Professional
Sourcehttp://www.fishwisepro.com/Species/details.aspx?Zoom=True&SId=56553

Dorsal soft rays (total): 21 - 24; Analsoft rays: 27 - 29

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorArmi G. Torres, FishBase
Sourcehttp://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=65670

Diagnosed by the following characters: scales in lateral series 70-76 (median 73); scales around caudal peduncle 15-20 (median 18.5); dorsal fin rays 21-24 (median 23); anal fin rays 27-29 (median 28.5); body depth 19.1-26.2% of SL (mean 22.6%); electric organ discharges (EOD) lacking a weak head-negative pre-potential, in females and juveniles Ndur of short duration (typically, 140±S.E. 2.8 ?s at 25°C and ‘‘5% threshold criterion’’); no striking sexual dimorphism in EOD waveform present, but longer EOD duration and statistically significant increase with SL in males (Ref. 75962).

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorArmi G. Torres, FishBase
Sourcehttp://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=65670

Habitat and Ecology:

Habitat and Ecology

Usually in main channels but in lower catchments this species does enter still lagoons and backwaters in the lower floodplains. Morphological variation suggests two species are present in the Phongolo River - an upper catchment main channel form and a lower catchment floodplain, still water form. Often associated with undercut banks, root stocks and vegetation beds.

Systems

  • Freshwater
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorInternational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Sourcehttp://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/63324

Environment:

demersal; freshwater

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorArmi G. Torres, FishBase
Sourcehttp://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=65670

Statistics of barcoding coverage: Marcusenius pongolensis:

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 2
Species With Barcodes: 1

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorSujeevan Ratnasingham, Paul D.N. Hebert, Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD)
Sourcehttp://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=192331

IUCN Red List Assessment:
Red List Category

DD
Data Deficient

Red List Criteria

Version

3.1

Year Assessed

2007

Assessor/s

Bills, R., Engelbrecht, J. & Marshall, B.E.

Reviewer/s

Snoeks, J. (Freshwater Fish Red List Authority) & Darwall, W. (Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment Unit)

Contributor/s

Justification

The taxonomy of the southern Marcusenius is not fully resolved. Results from electric organ discharges and genetics to date give mixed results. This seems to indicate there is more than one species present in the southern systems, a possibility supported by morphological and ecological evidence. The range/s of the southern species needs to be determined before a meaningful assessment can be made.
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorInternational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Sourcehttp://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/63324
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith