Scientific Name
Arnoldichthys spilopterus

Common Name
Niger tetra

Biology
Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. Parietal fontanel absent. Sexual dimorphism on anal fin: females - hyaline with black spot on rays beneath adipose fin, males - lemon yellow (sometimes red-yellow) with 5 dark or black bands and colored margin. Two lateral bands, upper red-orange, lower blue-green. Upper part of eye red. Dorsal with black spot lined with a clear zone which occupies 2/3 of the anterior portion of the dorsal. Scales below lateral big. Caudal stripe extending in middle of caudal fin from base to fork.

Classification

Classified By

Boulenger, 1909

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Characins (Characiformes)

Family

African tetras (Alestidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: lower Niger and Ogun rivers in Nigeria.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

23 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

pelagic

Environment

Freshwater; ; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 19 pelagic

Trophic Level

3.12 s.e. 0.32 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

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

9.6 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (10 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec=1000)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Vulnerable (VU) (B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v))