Bulldog (Marcusenius macrolepidotus) fish species and information / pictures of Bulldog - Marcusenius macrolepidotus

Bulldog (Marcusenius macrolepidotus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Marcusenius macrolepidotus

Common Name
Bulldog

Biology
Caught with dipnets in the Kafue floodplain, Zambia. Prefers well-vegetated, muddy bottomed marginal habitats of rivers and floodplains. A shoaling species which moves inshore after dark. Migrates within rivers. Recorded to move up tributaries in shoals during flood season. Feeds on invertebrates, especially midge and mayfly larvae and pupae taken from the bottom and off plant stems. Breeds during the rainy season in shallow vegetated localities; females carry up to 6,000 eggs. Possesses electroreceptors over the entire head and on the ventral and dorsal regions of the body, but absent from the side and the caudal peduncle where the electric organ is located .

Classification

Classified By
Peters, 1852
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Bony tongues (Osteoglossiformes)
Family
Elephantfishes (Mormyridae)

Distribution

Region
Africa
Distribution
Africa: Upper Congo basin, Zambezi, east flowing rivers of Tanzania and Natal. Widespread and common in the Cunene and Okavango systems.
Range
20°S - 31°S

Environment

Climate
Tropical
Water Temperature From
22 °C
Water Temperature To
24 °C
Depth From - meters
Unknown m
Depth To - meters
Unknown m
Zone
demersal
Environment
Freshwater; ; pH range: 7.0 - ? ; dH range: 10 - ? demersal; potamodromous
Trophic Level
3.2 s.e. 0.40 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
32.0 cm
Common Length
Unknown cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: ; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Vulnerability
Low vulnerability (19 of 100)
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.7-1.1)
Threat To Humans
Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
Least Concern (LC)