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Mastacembelus platysoma

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Phylum:Chordata
Class:Actinopterygii
Order:Synbranchiformes
Family:Mastacembelidae
Mastacembelus platysoma
CT scan of head of
Mastacembelus platysoma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Synbranchiformes
Family: Mastacembelidae
Genus: Mastacembelus
Species:
M. platysoma
Binomial name
Mastacembelus platysoma
Poll & Matthes, 1962
Synonyms[2]
  • Aethiomastacembelus platysoma (Poll & Matthes, 1962)
  • Afromastacembelus platysoma (Poll & Matthes, 1962)

Mastacembelus platysoma is a species of fish, a spiny eel in the family Mastacembelidae. It is found in Lake Tanganyika which is bordered by Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Zambia. The IUCN has listed it as being of "Least Concern".

Like other members of its genus, Mastacembelus platysoma is an elongated, eel-like fish and has a long snout with a pair of tubulated nostrils. It has a series of widely spaced dorsal spines on its back and it has 71 vertebrae. It grows to a maximum length of about 16 cm (6 in).[3][2]

Distribution and habitat

Mastacembelus platysoma is endemic to Lake Tanganyika and occurs nowhere else. It is found in rocky coastal areas of the lake at depths of down to about 30 m (98 ft).[2]

Ecology

Status

References

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