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Witte's kneria (Kneria wittei) — Kneriidae

Witte's kneria

Kneria wittei
Family: Kneriidae
LC · Least Concern

The Witte's kneria (Kneria wittei) is a freshwater fish of the family Kneriidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
8.6 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

Kneria wittei is a very small, streamlined freshwater fish of the family Kneriidae found in fast-flowing streams and mountain brooks of the Congo basin in Africa. Only a few centimetres long, it has an elongate, brownish body adapted to life in flowing water. Adult males possess a distinctive opercular organ that plays a role in courtship. The fish probably feeds on algae and small invertebrates scraped from stones. Owing to its small size and remote habitat it is little studied and of no economic importance.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Witte's kneria?

The Witte's kneria has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Witte's kneria live?

The Witte's kneria lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Witte's kneria get?

The Witte's kneria grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Witte's kneria dangerous to humans?

No, the Witte's kneria is harmless to humans.

Is the Witte's kneria edible?

The Witte's kneria is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Witte's kneria inferred
English name
Witte's kneria inferred
Scientific name
Kneria wittei
Family
Kneriidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.6 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous verified
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten inferred
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. 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 Kneria

More from the family Kneriidae

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