| Petrocephalus congicus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Osteoglossiformes |
| Family: | Mormyridae |
| Genus: | Petrocephalus |
| Species: | P. congicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Petrocephalus congicus L. R. David & Poll, 1937 | |
Petrocephalus congicus is a species of weakly electric fish in the family Mormyridae, commonly known as elephantfishes. This species was described in 1937 by L. R. David and Poll. [1]
Petrocephalus congicus is distinguished by its unique combination of morphological features. It has a dorsal fin with 18-19 branched rays and an anal fin with 27-28 branched rays. The fish has a large eye, with the ratio of head length to eye diameter ranging between 3.2 and 3.51. 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 ovoid mark below the anterior base of the dorsal fin and a crescent-like mark at the base of the caudal fin. [2]
This species reaches a length of 9.0 cm (3.5 in). [2]
Petrocephalus congicus is found in the -Congo River basin, specifically in the middle Congo River, upper Lomami River, and lower Lualaba River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It inhabits freshwater environments and is benthopelagic, meaning it lives near the bottom of the water body. [2]
The species was named in honor of the Congo River, where it was first discovered. The name "congicus" reflects its association with this major river system. [2] [3]
While Petrocephalus congicus 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. [2]
Petrocephalus congicus has not been evaluated by the IUCN Red List, and there is no specific conservation status assigned to this species.
Boulengeromyrus is a monospecific genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Mormyridae, the elephantfishes. The only species in the genus is Knoepffler's elephantfish. It occurs only in the Ivindo River and the Ntem River basins of Gabon and Cameroon. It reaches a maximum length of about 41 cm (16 in).
Petrocephalus arnegardi is a species of electric fish in the genus Petrocephalus native to the Central Congo River basin. It is found in middle Congo River and in the Likouala River drainage, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo.
Petrocephalus christyi is a species of electric fish in the family Mormyridae, found in Africa, being widespread in the Congo River basin, from the rapids just below Pool Malebo to the upper Lualaba, in Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola.
Petrocephalus hutereaui is a species of electric fish in the family Mormyridae, Africa: It's only known from the type locality in the Uélé system of the middle Congo River basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Petrocephalus balayi is a species of electric fish in the family Mormyridae, found only in the Ogowe River in Gabon and the Congo River basin in Cameroon, Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Petrocephalus zakoni is a species of weakly electric fish in the family Mormyridae, commonly known as elephantfishes. This species was described in 2010 by Lavoué, Sullivan, and Arnegard.
Petrocephalus valentini is a species of weakly electric fish in the family Mormyridae, commonly known as elephantfishes. This species was described in 2010 by Lavoué, Sullivan, and Arnegard.
Petrocephalus pulsivertens is a species of weakly electric fish in the family Mormyridae, commonly known as elephantfishes. This species was described in 2010 by Lavoué, Sullivan, and Arnegard.
Petrocephalus odzalaensis is a species of weakly electric fish in the family Mormyridae, commonly known as elephantfishes. This species was described in 2010 by Lavoué, Sullivan, and Arnegard.
Petrocephalus mbossou is a species of weakly electric fish in the family Mormyridae, commonly known as elephantfishes. This species was described in 2010 by Lavoué, Sullivan, and Arnegard.
Petrocephalus frieli is a species of weakly electric fish in the family Mormyridae, commonly known as elephantfishes. This species was described in 2012 by Lavoué.
Petrocephalus gliroides is a species of weakly electric fish in the family Mormyridae, commonly known as elephantfishes. This species was first described in 1897 by Vinciguerra.
Pollimyrus guttatus is a species of weakly electric fish in the family Mormyridae, commonly known as elephantfishes. This species was first described in 1936 by Fowler.
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.
Petrocephalus soudanensis 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.
Petrocephalus longianalis is a species of electric fish in the family Mormyridae, it is found in the lower and upper Luapula River system in Zambia.
Petrocephalus longicapitis is a species of electric fish in the family Mormyridae, it is found in the upper and middle Zambezi River. Also in the Okavango in Angola.
Petrocephalus wesselsi, commonly known as the Southern Churchill, is a species of weakly electric fish in the family Mormyridae, commonly known as elephantfishes. This species was described in 2000 by Kramer and van der Bank.
Petrocephalus pallidomaculatus 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.
Petrocephalus schoutedeni is a species of electric fish in the family Mormyridae, found the coastal basins between Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire, part of the Sassandra River. it is also known from the Niandan River, which is an affluent of the Niger River in Guinea and also from the upper Cavally River in Liberia, Guinea and Ghana.