Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Actinopterygii (ray‑finned fishes)
- Order: Synbranchiformes
- Family: Mastacembidae (spiny eels)
- Genus: Mastacembelus
- Species: Mastacembelus flavidus
- Authority: (Boulenger, 1900)
Common names
No widely recognized common name has been recorded for this species.
Description
Mastacembelus flavidus is a species of spiny eel. As with other members of the genus, it possesses an elongated, serpentine body, a series of dorsal‑originating spines, and a reduced caudal fin. Specific morphological details (e.g., coloration pattern, maximum length, meristic counts) for M. flavidus are not extensively documented in readily accessible taxonomic literature; therefore, detailed species‑specific characteristics are presently lacking.
Distribution and habitat
The species has been reported from freshwater systems in Central Africa, primarily within the Congo River basin. Precise locality records, range limits, and habitat preferences (e.g., substrate type, water flow conditions) are not comprehensively outlined in the publicly available sources consulted.
Ecology
General ecological traits of Mastacembelus spp. include a benthic lifestyle, nocturnal activity, and a diet consisting of small invertebrates, worms, and occasional fish fry. Specific studies on the ecology, diet, or reproductive biology of M. flavidus have not been found; thus, species‑level ecological information remains insufficient.
Conservation status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not evaluated Mastacembelus flavidus. Consequently, its conservation status is listed as “Not Evaluated” (NE). No targeted conservation measures or population assessments have been documented.
Taxonomic notes
The species was originally described by George Albert Boulenger in 1900. It is catalogued in global fish databases such as FishBase, where it is recognized under the accepted scientific name Mastacembelus flavidus. No known synonyms or recent taxonomic revisions have been reported.
References
- Boulenger, G. A. (1900). Descriptions of new African fishes. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1900: 657‑661.
- FishBase. (2024). Mastacembelus flavidus species summary. Retrieved from https://www.fishbase.se.
- IUCN Red List. (2023). Mastacembelus spp. – general assessment information.
Note: Where specific data are lacking, the entry explicitly indicates that insufficient encyclopedic information is currently available.