Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 18; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 18 - 21; Vertebrae: 42 - 44. Diagnosis: Body moderate, sometimes deep, its depth 25% of standard length or more; 13-18 pre-pelvic and 8-10 post-pelvic scutes, 1-2 scutes before pectoral fin origin, first pre-pectoral scute as long as, or smaller than, following scutes without ascending arms; lower jaw strongly projecting, with strong canine teeth at symphysis; pre-maxilla with 2-4 strong backward-pointing canine teeth on each side behind outer row of pre-maxillary teeth; lower gillrakers 16-19, shorter than corresponding gill filaments; anal fin with 18-21 rays; silver stripe along flank (Ref. 188, 54749, 81269, 81631). It resembles Odaxothrissa ansorgii, which has more gillrakers, 22-33 vs. 16-19; and Pellonula vorax, which lacks canine teeth in the upper jaw and has longer gillrakers, equal in length to gill filaments vs. shorter (Ref. 188, 54749).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Clupeiformes

Family: Dorosomatidae

Genus: Odaxothrissa

Species: Odaxothrissa mento (Regan, 1917)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Found in rivers and streams, also in the man-made Lake Volta, but only in the most riverine parts (Ref. 188). It feeds on small fishes, including its own juveniles, and aquatic insects (Ref. 188, 2246). Possibly migrates upstream to breed (Ref. 188). It enters artisanal fisheries, but catches are small (Ref. 188).

Habitat

pelagic