Airbreathing shellear

Kneria auriculata

An arched lateral line crosses rows of dark spots

Airbreathing shellear is known around Africa as a freshwater fish; It occurs in freshwater habitats, and records give a maximum length of 7 cm.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Milkfishes and Allies
Family: Kneriidae
Genus: Kneria
Maximum length: 7 cm
Water: Freshwater
Body shape: elongated
Distribution: Africa: most mountain and plateau tributaries of the Zambezi, Pungwe, Buzi, Sabi/Save and Runde/Lundi rivers (Ref. 83372 ) in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique. Also in the upper Congo River basin (Lualaba, upper Lualaba, Lake Mweru and Luapula) (Ref. 45616 ) in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia. A relict southern pocket occurs in the Crocodile (Incomati system), Transvaal (Ref. 7248 , 52193 ). Identity of specimens from the Kafue and upper Zambezi requires confirmation (Ref. 52193 ). Not recorded from coastal areas (Ref. 5214 ).
Conservation status: LCLeast Concern

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