Description

Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 9; Anal spines: 8 - 9; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10.

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Anabantiformes

Family: Anabantidae

Genus: Ctenopoma

Species: Ctenopoma multispine Peters, 1844

Climate Zone

Location

• Africa: Lufira River, Lualaba-Upemba, Luapula-Moero in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Upper Zambezi in Zambia and Angola and Cubango-Okovango-Ngami in Angola and Botswana (Ref. 6803). Also known from the Kunene (Ref. 120641), the Kafue and rivers of coastal Mozambique (Ref. 7248, 52193), the Cuanza (Ref. 7248, 52193, 120641) and the Kwango, Kwilu and Kasai systems (middle Congo River basin) in Angola (Ref. 11970).

Biology

Obligate air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Occurs in vegetated riverine backwaters, floodplain lagoons, swamps and isolated pans (Ref. 52193). It feeds on any suitably small creature, including insects, shrimps, and small fish; well camouflaged; hunts by slowly stalking prey (Ref. 52193). May congregate in groups to breed; the eggs are scattered around and not guarded (Ref. 52193). Can endure warm stagnant waters and is known to leave the water and move overland to alternative sites in wet weather or at night (Ref. 7248, 52193).

Habitat

benthopelagic

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Threat to Humans

Harmless