Pellonula vorax

Body shape: fusiform / normal. Diagnosis: Body moderate or fairly deep, its depth 23-30% of standard length; 1 or more scutes beginning in front of base of first pectoral finray, with 11-16 pre-pelvic and 8-11 post-pelvic scutes, and a total of 20-25 scutes, first pre-pelvic scute always longer and better developed than following scutes lacking ascending arms; lower jaw slightly projecting, teeth at symphysis large in large specimens; pre-maxilla teeth well-developed, fairly straight and outward pointing, an indented toothless gap at centre of jaw; lower gillrakers 24-37, equal to or longer than corresponding gill filaments; silver stripe along flank (Ref. 188, 2244, 81269, 81631). It resembles Pellonula leonensis, which has small and inward-curving teeth and no pre-pectoral scutes (Ref. 188, 81269, 81631). The absence of large canine teeth in the upper jaw distinguishes it from Odaxothrissa (Ref. 188). Description: Body moderate or fairly deep, its depth 23-30% of standard length (Ref. 188, 2244). Head length about 30% of standard length (Ref. 2244). Lower jaw projecting, with well-developed teeth, but no enlarged canine teeth; maxillary extending to below anterior border of eye or a little beyond (Ref. 1878, 2244, 3022). A group of teeth on each side of the palatinum; generally 3 rows of teeth on the tongue; conical teeth relatively well developed on the dentary and pre-maxillary; pre-maxillary teeth are directed towards the outside of the mouth; length of supra-maxillary and width of maxillary respectively 58.6-75.8% and 16.2-22.0% of maxillary length, whose base bears up to 40 small conical teeth (Ref. 2244). First gill arch with 34-54 gill rakers, of which 24-37 on the lower limb, generally longer than the corresponding filaments on the first gill arch (Ref. 2244, 2849, 81269, 81631). Dorsal fin with 15-19 rays, the first dorsal-fin ray slightly in front or behind the insertion of the pelvic fin; anal fin with 16-21 rays; pectoral fin with 12-18 rays; pelvic fin with 8 rays; length of pectoral fin generally more than half the pectoral-pelvic fin distance; caudal fin deeply forked, with pointed lobes (Ref. 1878, 2244, 2849, 81269, 81631). Cycloid scales; 38-48 scales on longitudinal series; 13-14 scales in transverse series (Ref. 1878, 2244, 3032). First pre-pelvic scute better developed and longer than following ones lacking ascending arms and located at isthmus in front of the base of the first pectoral fin ray; 10-16 pre-pelvic scutes and 8-11 post-pelvic scutes (Ref. 188, 2244, 2849, 81269, 81631). Vertebrae 42-43; with 21-26 abdominal vertebrae, 17-23 caudal vertebrae and 10-12 predorsal bones (Ref. 2244, 41578). Colouration: Ground colour in preserved specimens variable from yellow-brown to yellow-gray; operculum, ventral region and flanks usually lighter (Ref. 2244, 2849, 81269, 81631). Silver stripe along flank (Ref. 188). Striking features: none.

Africa: lagoons and lower parts of rivers from Liberia to Angola (Ref. 188, 2244, 28136, 81269, 81631), also in Guinea-Bissau (Ref. 3033); however it seems to be absent in the area between Ghana and Niger River Delta (Ref. 2244, 28136), except for Lake Nokoué (Ref. 81269). This species was not observed far upstream rivers (Ref. 2244), although it has been found recently in Léfini River, part of Middle Congo River basin (Ref. 88782). The type locality of the syntypes of the nominal species Pellonula stanleyana, 'Stanley Falls' (Ref. 2263), seems to be an erroneous locality (Ref. 188), and should be 'Cette Cama [= Sette Cama]' in Gabon (Ref. 2244).

Freshwater, brackish, marine. pelagic. Found in: streams.

Found in rivers and streams (Ref. 188). It forms large schools in lower courses of rivers (Ref. 2244, 43836), and is very abundant in brackish water habitat (Ref. 86940).

Max length: 12.0 cm SL.

Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders.

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2019-04-30. Resilience: Medium (Fec < 1,000).