Petrocephalus levequei is a species of weakly electric fish in the family Mormyridae, commonly known as elephantfishes. This species was described in 1990 by Bigorne and Paugy.[1][2]
| Petrocephalus levequei | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Osteoglossiformes |
| Family: | Mormyridae |
| Genus: | Petrocephalus |
| Species: | P. levequei
|
| Binomial name | |
| Petrocephalus levequei | |
Description
editPetrocephalus levequei is distinguished by its unique combination of morphological features. It has a dorsal fin with 27-32 branched rays and an anal fin with 32-37 branched rays. The fish has a large eye, with the ratio of head length to eye diameter ranging between 2.8 and 3.91. The mouth is large, with the ratio of head length to mouth width between 2.0 and 3.7. Additionally, it has 15-21 teeth in the upper jaw and 24-30 teeth in the lower jaw1. The pigmentation pattern includes two distinctive melanin markings: a distinct triangular spot below the anterior base of the dorsal fin and a V-shaped spot at the base of the caudal fin.[2]
Size
editThis species reaches a length of 13.0 cm (5.1 in).[2]
Habitat
editPetrocephalus levequei is found in the Atlantic Guinean slope, and it may possibly occur in coastal basins of Liberia. It inhabits freshwater environments and is benthopelagic, meaning it lives near the bottom of the water body.[2]
Discovery
editThe species was named in honor of French ichthyologist-hydrobiologist Christian Lévêque, ORSTOM (Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique d'Outre-Mer), it was he who initiated a research program on the freshwater fishes of west Africa.[3]
Aquarium care
editWhile Petrocephalus levequei is not commonly kept in aquariums, it would require similar care to other species in the Mormyridae family. This would include maintaining a tropical freshwater environment with appropriate water parameters, providing hiding spots and a substrate that mimics its natural habitat, and offering a varied diet.
Conservation status
editPetrocephalus levequei has been evaluated by the IUCN Red List and is listed as Least Concern (LC). This means that the species is currently not at risk of extinction in the wild.[2]
References
edit- ^ Bigorne, R., & Paugy, D. (1990). Mormyridae. p. 122-184. In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy, and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux saumâtres d'Afrique de l'Ouest. tome 1. Faune Trop. 28. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, and ORSTOM, Paris.
- ^ a b c d e Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Petrocephalus levequei". FishBase. February 2015 version.
- ^ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (22 September 2018). "Family MORMYRIDAE Bonaparte 1831 (Elephantfishes)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 12 November 2024.