Description:
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0. Diagnosis:
gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin
insertions; post-orbital length at least 60% of snout
length; maxillary barbels longer than head, unbranched,
without tubercles, but bordered by a narrow and very
short basal membrane; outer mandibular barbels with
long, simple and thin ramifications (6 in the lectotype);
branches of inner mandibular barbels shorter, thicker,
subdivided and tuberculate; mandibular teeth short
and narrow, numbering 20-39 (39 in the lectotype);
denticulations of pectoral-fin spines very weak on
outer margins, much stronger on inner margin; dorsal-fin
spine smooth anteriorly, except for a few apical denticles;
humeral process narrow, triangular, pointed, at least
twice as deep as long and not keeled ventrally; adipose
fin not very high nor very long, and distinctly separated
from rayed dorsal fin; body covered with irregular,
more or less coalesced spots; belly dark. Habitat:
This species is restricted to the Upper Bafing river
at Ballay, a tributary of the Senegal River in the
Fouta Djallon, Guinea. Colouration:
rather dark, with a network of more or less distinct
light wavy bands; fins, in particular the caudal,
with well visible spots aligned in bands. Aquarium
Care: As for most of this genera which are
problem free. A small and inoffensive species and
would do well in a mid-sized community tank. Etymology:
The specific name tourei:In
honour of Moussa Touré, forestry inspector
in Mamou, a city in the Fouta Djallon area of Guinea,
where this catfish occurs.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Mochokidae
Distribution:
Africa:
Bafing River, (Senegal basin), Guinea. Type
locality: Bafing à Ballay, Guinée.
Size:
10.0cm. (4ins)
Temp:
23-26°C (73-79°F)
p.H.
6.5-7.2.
IUCN
Red List
This
species is restricted to the Upper Bafing river at Ballay,
a tributary of the Senegal River in the Fouta Djallon,
Guinea with the best estimate of its area of occupancy
(AOO) at 4 km2. It is threatened by a decline in habitat
quality due to gold and platinum mining and potentially
from deforestation. There is one location based on this
threat. This species is therefore assessed as Critically
Endangered, (IUCN 2020).
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