Scientific Name
Alestes dentex

Common Name
Characin

Biology
Two subspecies: Alestes dentex dentex in the Nile and Alestes dentex sethente (Valenciennes, 1849) in Sudanian basins of West Africa. Omnivorous, stomachs examined contained seeds, zooplankton, insects or fish fry (Ref. 28714).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Characins (Characiformes)

Family

African tetras (Alestidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: Chad, Niger, Volta, Gambia, Senegal, Nile, Lake Mobutu Sese Seko, Lake Omo, Lake Turkana. Also known from the White Nile, Murchinson Nile, and Blue Nile, (Ref. 5331).

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

24 °C

Water Temperature To

27 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

pelagic

Environment

Freshwater; ; pH range: 6.0 - 6.5; dH range: 4 - 18 pelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243)

Trophic Level

2.93 s.e. 0.37 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

55.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5078 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (31 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=7; tm=2; K=0.43-.075)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)