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Lake Tanganyika sardine (Gnathonemus longibarbis) — Mormyridae

Lake Tanganyika sardine

Gnathonemus longibarbis
Family: Mormyridae
LC · Least Concern

The Lake Tanganyika sardine (Gnathonemus longibarbis) is a freshwater fish of the family Mormyridae that grows up to 36 cm.

Length
36 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
27.0–45.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

Gnathonemus longibarbis is an African elephantfish of the family Mormyridae from the Nile basin and the East African lakes. The species has an elongate, dark body and bears a sensitive, finger-like appendage on the chin. Like other mormyrids it has a weak electric organ; with the chin appendage and the electric sense it probes mud, papyrus roots and crevices between stones to find hidden insects. The diet consists of insect larvae, worms and other small bottom animals. The fish reaches about 36 cm and has no fishery value.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Lake Tanganyika sardine?

The Lake Tanganyika sardine has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly black and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Lake Tanganyika sardine live?

The Lake Tanganyika sardine lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Lake Tanganyika sardine get?

The Lake Tanganyika sardine grows to a maximum of about 36 cm.

Is the Lake Tanganyika sardine dangerous to humans?

No, the Lake Tanganyika sardine is harmless to humans.

Is the Lake Tanganyika sardine edible?

The Lake Tanganyika sardine is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Langbaard-olifantsvis sourced
English name
Lake Tanganyika sardine verified
Scientific name
Gnathonemus longibarbis
Family
Mormyridae
Other names
Longnose stonebasher verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
36.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Black inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
27.0 verified
Max depth (m)
45.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Gnathonemus

More from the family Mormyridae

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