Characin

Alestes dentex

Half a red tail behind a silver belly

Characin is known around Africa as a freshwater fish; It occurs in freshwater habitats, and records give a maximum length of 55 cm.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Characins
Family: Alestidae
Genus: Alestes
Maximum length: 55 cm
Water: Freshwater
Body shape: fusiform
Distribution: Africa: Chad, Niger, Volta, Gambia, Senegal (Ref. 2880 , 81279 ). Outside West Africa this species is found in Nile basin, including Lower Nile, White Nile, Blue Nile and Murchison Nile (Ref. 5331 ) and Lake Mobutu Sese Seko [=Lake Albert] and Omo-Lake Turkana system (Ref. 2880 ).
Conservation status: LCLeast Concern

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