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Nematabramis alestes

(Seale & Bean, 1907)Formerly Mearnsella alestes Seale & Bean, 1907 · Nematabramis verecundus Herre, 1924

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Specimen from Palawan island, Philippines.
Specimen from Palawan island, Philippines.Zhou Hang

Quick factsEdit

Max size
105mm SL4in SL
Aquarium size
not recorded
Temp
not recorded
pH
not recorded
Hardness
not recorded

Difficulty3 of 8 measures

Moderate

How the rating is worked out

Space
medium tank
Water
unknown
Temp
unknown
Diet
unknown
Temperament
unknown
Social
needs to be in a group
Compatibility
fine with others

Other demands

Each of these can raise the rating on its own, whatever the measures above say.

Hardiness
unknown

Nematabramis alestes is a cyprinid from the southern Philippines, with records from Basilan, Mindanao, Palawan and Busuanga. The only member of the genus with barbels shorter than the head, its body has a pronounced ventral keel.

Etymology

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Nematabramis: from the Ancient Greek νῆμᾰ (nêma), meaning 'thread', and presumably the generic name Abramis.

alestes: from the Ancient Greek αλεστες (aléstes), meaning 'miller, grinder'. The precise allusion is not mentioned in the original description and remains unclear, since the authors state that this species' pharyngeal teeth as "without evident grinding surface".

Distribution

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Native to the southern Philippines with records from the islands of Basilan, Mindanao, Palawan, and Busuanga. It may also occur on other islands in the region, such as Tawi-Tawi or Balabac.

Type locality is 'Zamboanga, western Mindanao, Philippines'.

Habitat

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Nematabramis species are found a variety of habitat-types, from swiftly-flowing tributary streams to pools, lakes, and degraded swamps.

Notes

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N. alestes is the only member of the genus in which the barbels are shorter than the head, with additional diagnostic characters as follows: 8-9 branched dorsal-fin rays; 12-14 branched anal-fin rays; 22-23 predorsal scales; body with a pronounced ventral keel.

References

  1. Seale, A. and B. A. Bean (1907). On a collection of fishes from the Philippine Islands, made by Maj. Edgar A. Mearns, surgeon, U. S. Army, with descriptions of seven new species. Proceedings of the United States National Museum v. 33 (no. 1568), 229-248
  2. Kottelat, M. (2013). The fishes of the inland waters of southeast Asia: a catalogue and core bibiography of the fishes known to occur in freshwaters, mangroves and estuaries. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 27, 1-663
  3. Inger, R. F. and P. K. Chin (1962). The fresh-water fishes of North Borneo. Fieldiana Zoology v.45, 1-268

Species images · 1

Specimen from Palawan island, Philippines.
Specimen from Palawan island, Philippines.Zhou Hang

These photographs are used with each photographer's permission.

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Distribution

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