Petrocephalus magnoculis

General description: 

Original description from Kramer et al (2012):

Body oval shape. Head with rounded nose, small ventrally positioned subterminal mouth, situated ventral to the eye; head and body dorsolaterally compressed. Dorsal fin (a) origin situated about two-thirds of standard length from snout, (b) obliquely orientated, anteriorly higher and posteriorly lower, (c) distal margin crescentic with anterior two or three rays longer than posterior rays, and (d) number of rays 20 (n = 1), 21 (n = 0), 22 (n = 2), 23 (n = 2), 24 (n = 4). Anal fin (a) longer than dorsal fin, (b) opposite dorsal fin with slightly more anterior origin, (c) obliquely orientated, anteriorly lower and posteriorly higher, (d) anterior 10 or so rays longer than posterior ones, especially in males where they also appear stronger, (e) margin broadly rounded, (f) rays posterior to first 10 with distal margin straight, (g) number of rays 26 (n = 1), 27 (n = 0), 28 (n = 2), 29 (n = 2), 30 (n = 3), 31 (n = 1). Forked tail fin with rounded lobes. Scales cycloid with reticulate striae, scales extending anteriorly to operculum and pectoral fins (beyond pelvics). Scales in lateral series, 38 (n = 1), 39 (n = 1), 40 (n = 2), 42 (n = 1). Scales on caudal peduncle circumference, 11 (n = 1), 12 (n = 7), 13 (n = 1). Caudal peduncle slender, subcylindrical entire length, usually 19.9% (18.4–21.8%) of SL.

Electric organ discharge a triphasic pulse with strong head-positive phase P1 followed by head-negative main phase N, and head-positive P2 phase of 30% amplitude re: P1 phase. Pulse duration mean 443 (394–536) μs (n = 4); (25 ◦C, 2% threshold criterion).

Males with kink in anal fin base which is absent in juveniles and females where the anal fin base is straight.

Colour in life: grey-silver, underside lighter, paired fins light and transparent.

Colour in preservation: light beige, back darker and grey, but brown where mormyrid skin gone.

Diagnostic description: 

From Kramer et al (2012):

Eye diameter defined by orbital rims, OD, mean 0.294 (range 0.259–0.329) of HL, head length; number of scales in lateral line row, SLS, median 40 (range 38–42); length of snout to posterior orbital rim of eye, LSo, mean 0.485 (range 0.47–0.514) of HL, head length; length of snout to centre of eye, LSc, mean 0.37 (range 0.352–0.391) of HL; head length, HL, mean 0.258 (range 0.25–0.277) of SL; preanal length, PAL, mean 0.611 (range 0.59–0.628) of SL; anal fin length, LA, mean 0.234 (range 0.215–0.256) of SL; number of dorsal fin rays, nD, median 23 (range 20–24); body depth, BD, mean 0.312 (range (0.283–0.34) of SL; distance between the pair of nares of one side, Na, mean 27.9 (range 24.3–31.1) times in HL, head length.

Electric Organ Discharge: 
From Kramer et al (2012): Electric organ discharge a triphasic pulse with strong head-positive phase P1 followed by head-negative main phase N, and head-positive P2 phase of 30% amplitude re: P1 phase. Pulse duration mean 443 (394–536) μs (n = 4); (25 ◦C, 2% threshold criterion).
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith