Marcusenius macrolepidotus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

View Printer Friendly

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	OSTEOGLOSSIFORMES	MORMYRIDAE

Scientific Name:

Marcusenius macrolepidotus

Species Authority:

(Peters, 1852)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Bulldog, Bulldog-fish, Elephant Nose, Tana-bulldog

Synonym/s:

Gnathonemus graeverti Steindachner, 1914

Gnathonemus macrolepidotus (Peters, 1852)

Gnathonemus moeruensis Boulenger, 1915

Gnathonemus okavangensis Pappenheim, 1907

Marcusenius graeverti (Steindachner, 1914)

Marcusenius rhodesianus (Maar 1962)

Mormyrus macrolepidotus Peters, 1852

Taxonomic Notes:

Two subspecies exist, M. m. macrolepidotus and M. m. angolensis.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2007

Assessor/s

Snoeks, J., Laleye, P. & MacBeath, T.

Evaluator/s:

Collen, B., Darwall, W., Ram, M. & Smith, K. (SRLI Freshwater Fish Evaluation Workshop)

Justification:
M. macrolepidotus has been assessed as Least Concern because this species has a wide range with no widespread threats.

History:

2006

–

Least Concern (IUCN 2006)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	M. m. macrolepidotus is found in Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and possibly Kenya; this species is found in the upper Congo, Zambezi, Ruaha, and Umhlattuzi river basins, and is widespread and common in the Cunene and Okavango systems. M. m. angolensis is found in Angola and the Democratic republic of Congo in the Congo basin and Upper Zambesi.
Countries:	Native: Angola; Botswana; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Malawi; Mozambique; Namibia; South Africa; Sudan; Swaziland; Tanzania, United Republic of; Zambia; Zimbabwe Presence uncertain: Kenya

Range Description:

M. m. macrolepidotus is found in Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and possibly Kenya; this species is found in the upper Congo, Zambezi, Ruaha, and Umhlattuzi river basins, and is widespread and common in the Cunene and Okavango systems. M. m. angolensis is found in Angola and the Democratic republic of Congo in the Congo basin and Upper Zambesi.

Countries:

Native:

Angola; Botswana; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Malawi; Mozambique; Namibia; South Africa; Sudan; Swaziland; Tanzania, United Republic of; Zambia; Zimbabwe

Presence uncertain:

Kenya

Population [top]

Population:	Currently, there is a lack of detailed population numbers and the global trend is unknown.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	M. macrolepidotus is a demersal and potamodromous (migrates within fresh water only) species which prefers well-vegetated, muddy bottomed marginal habitats of rivers and floodplains. This species moves inshore after dark, and has been recorded to move up tributaries in shoals during flood season.
Systems:	Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Threats do exist within the range of this species, for example pollution in the Zambezi River, however these threats only affect a small proportion of the range of M. macrolepidotus.

Major Threat(s):

Threats do exist within the range of this species, for example pollution in the Zambezi River, however these threats only affect a small proportion of the range of M. macrolepidotus.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are no conservation measures or actions known.

Conservation Actions:

There are no conservation measures or actions known.

Citation:	Snoeks, J., Laleye, P. & MacBeath, T. 2007. Marcusenius macrolepidotus. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided