Citharinidae

Citharinus latus

The Geradsalmler ( Citharinidae ) are a family of the order Characins ( Characiformes ). They occur exclusively in fresh waters of Africa.

Features

Common features are the straight side line, relatively numerous fin rays in the pelvic fins, as well as some features of the Schädelbaues. The hochrückige body of the fish is covered with round scales, their maxilla, a bone of the upper jaw is reduced and toothless. Anal and dorsal fins are relatively long, the anal fin has 16 to 24 fin rays, the dorsal fin 19 to 31, the largest member of the Geradsalmler is 84 inches long.

In order to concentrate the food serving as microscopic algae that produce Cithariniden in their paired Epibranchialorgan inside the gill cover mucus on which glue the algae and thus be carried in a trough for esophageal entrance.

System

There are three kinds, of which two are monotypic. The previously identified in the Geradsalmler subfamilies Distichodontinae and Ichthyborinae are today counted to the family Distichodontidae.

• Family Geradsalmler ( Citharinidae ) Genus Citharidium Boulenger, 1902 C. ansorgii Boulenger, 1902

• C. distichodoides ( Pellegrin, 1919)

• African Hochrückensalmler (C. citharus ) ( Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, 1809)
• Congo Geradsalmler (C. congicus ) Boulenger, 1897
• C. distichodoides Pellegrin, 1919
• C. eburneensis Daget, 1962
• C. gibbosus Boulenger, 1899
• C. latus Müller & Troschel, 1845
• C. macrolepis Boulenger, 1899