Nile Minnow

Diagnosis: body depth 3.8-5.7x and head length 3.7-4.5x SL; eye diameter 2.8-3.6x head length (Ref. 2940, 81282). Scale formula 5.5-6.5/32-40/3.5(4.5); 12 scales around caudal peduncle; 9-12 anal-fin branched rays (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639). 8-9 dorsal-fin branched rays; sides plain or with irregular markings; back dark (Ref. 2940, 81282). Description: body elongate, its dorsal profile nearly straight; D:III,8(9); A:III,9-12; P:14; V:I,8 (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639). Coloration: silvery in life, without markings on sides; fins colorless (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639).

Potamodromous. Migrating within streams, migratory in rivers, e.g. Saliminus, Moxostoma, Labeo. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Analsoft rays: 12 - 15

Affinities: L. guineensis (no. of scales higher).

fisheries: of no interest

The Nile minnow (Leptocypris niloticus) is a species of cyprinid fish found the Nile, Omo, Niger, Bénoué, Volta, and Senegal Rivers, and the Lake Chad basin. It was described by Léon-Daniel de Joannis in 1835.