Six-banded distichodus

Six-banded distichodus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Distichodontidae
Genus: Distichodus
Species: D. sexfasciatus
Binomial name
Distichodus sexfasciatus
Boulenger, 1897

The six-banded distichodus or sixbar distichodus (Distichodus sexfasciatus) is a species of fish in the Distichodontidae family.[2]

Description

The males of Distichodus sexfasciatus can reach a length of 76 centimetres (30 in). Body is high-backed, reddish brown to reddish-yellow colored, with an elongated, partially squat and laterally flattened head and six dark vertical bands. Its snout has a characteristic conical shape. They have 24–25 dorsal soft rays and 14–15 anal soft rays.[2][3] These fishes feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter.[2]

Distribution and habitat

This species can be found in Africa, in the basin of the Congo River and in the Lake Tanganika in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Zambia and Angola.[2][1] These freshwater fishes occur in swarms and schools in lower water levels of rivers and lakes, in areas of tropical climate (22–26 °C).[2]

Bibliography

Distichodus sexfasciatus

References

  1. 1 2 Moelants, T. (2010). "Distichodus sexfasciatus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2010: e.T181923A7765219. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T181923A7765219.en. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Six-banded distichodus on the FishBase"
  3. Eccles, D.H., 1992. FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Field guide to the freshwater fishes of Tanzania. Prepared and published with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (project URT/87/016). FAO, Roma. 145 p.


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