Butterflyfish
Size / Weight / Age
Max length : 11.9 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 52030)
Environment
Freshwater; pelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243)
Climate / Range
Tropical; 23°C - 30°C (Ref. 13371)
Distribution
West and Central Africa: Nigeria, Lake Chad, Cameroon, Ogowe basin, Congo basin
and upper Zambezi River (Ref. 2921, Ref. 3515). Eastern limit of its
distribution seems to be the Ouémé River in Benin (Ref. 1989, Ref. 3019), but it
is also observed in Jong River, Sierra Leone (Ref. 2921).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions |
Short description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft
rays: 9 - 15. Compressed body, flattened on the dorsal side and head, careened
on the ventral side behind the pelvic fins (Ref. 2921, Ref. 13851). Large mouth,
with numerous teeth and a prominent lower jaw (Ref. 2921), upwardly directed
(Ref. 3054, Ref. 42873). Short dorsal fin placed very posterior on the back
(Ref. 2921), inserted behind the longer anal fin (Ref. 3054, Ref. 13851). Large
development of the pectoral fins (Ref. 2921, Ref. 3054), enlarged and wing-like
(Ref. 42873). Very advanced position of the pelvic fins, with 4 elongated,
filamentous rays (Ref. 2921, Ref. 3054). The caudal fin is long, pointed and
rather ragged, with the two centre rays the longest (Ref. 13851). Large cycloid
scales (Ref. 2921), subcircular, with rounded but evident laterobasal angles
(Ref. 53264): 26-30 lateral line scales, 21-26 predorsal scales (Ref. 52030,
Ref. 52046). Extremely brilliant colored (Ref. 2921): dorsal side of the body
olive-colored, ventral side silvery yellow amplified with carmine; sometimes
with darker transversal bands on the back (Ref. 2921, Ref. 3032). The fins are
vivid pink-colored with small brown-violet spots, forming transversal bands on
the pectoral fins, and tinted with violet on the inside and extremities (Ref.
2921).
Biology Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)
Pantodon buchholzi is a creature from calm waters (Ref. 51626). It lives in
swamps, creeks and buckwaters (Ref. 31256), and inhabits the calmer parts of
rivers (Ref. 41580), where it can be seen on the surface waters (Ref. 4910).
They are capable to jump out of the water, to search for insects or to escape
from predators (Ref. 2921). It is not a glider, but a ballistic jumper (Ref.
52282), with a tremendous jumping power (Ref. 31256). It is an exophageous
insectivore, feeding on terrestrial insects and aquatic larvae and nymphs of
insects (Ref. 41580). It also feeds on crustaceans and fish (Ref. 7020).
Introduced in 1905 to European aquarists (Ref. 51626, Ref. 53207). Pantodon
buchholzi is a favorite fish for aquarists; in the aquarium it can rest with the
top of the head and the large pectoral fins touching the surface, while the long
rays of the pelvic fin hang down perpendicularly, forming a tempting morsel for
other aggressive fish in the same tank, and therefore it should be stocked
together with only bottom dwellers. Observed maximum length of 15.0 cm TL in
aquarium.