Awaous lateristriga (Duméril, 1861)

Description


Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 9 - 11. Diagnosis: snout 33-38% of head length; mouth with 2-3 rows of small, caniniform teeth; head length 24-31% of standard length; 2 fleshy processes on posterior of gill chamber, just inside gill opening; 35 or less cycloid predorsal scales, extending to vertical level of posterior part of preoperculum, predorsal scales may rarely be absent; cheeks and operculum naked; body with strongly ctenoid scales, numbering 54-66 (usually 59 to 63) in longitudinal series (including usually 3-4 scales on caudal fin base); 13-20 scales in rearward transverse series; 16-21 scales around caudal peduncle; 1st dorsal fin: VI; second dorsal fin: I,10 (rarely 11); anal fin: I,9-11 (usually 10), opposed to 2nd dorsal fin; pectoral fins: 14-17; caudal fin: 17 segmented rays (11 to 13 of which are branched); pelvic fins oval; yellowish dorsally, with several (about 14) bands of brown spots over dorsum (Ref. 57403, 79590).

Taxonomic Hierarchy


Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Gobiiformes

Family: Gobiidae

Genus: Awaous

Species: Awaous lateristriga (Duméril, 1861)

Climate Zone


  • Tropical
  • Location


  • Eastern Atlantic: St. Louis (Senegal) to the Cunene River (Angola) and from the islands of the Gulf of Guinea (Ref. 5299, 57403, 79590). Also reported from the lower Kunene in Namibia (Ref. 33857).
  • Biology


    Amphidromous freshwater species (Ref. 92840). Often found in lower courses of rivers, ranging from freshwaters to brackish habitats (Ref. 57403, 79590), including brackish waters of intermittent streams during dry seasons (Ref. 5299), but may ascend far up rivers (Ref. 57403, 79590). Also found in flooded fields and marginal swamps along courses of streams and rivers (Ref. 5299). Not usually exceeding 139.8 mm SL, larger specimens may be misidentifications of A. bustamantei (Ref. 79590).

    Habitat


    brackish