Brycinus imberi, formerly called Alestes imberi, is a
micropredatory characin that can exceed 23 cm (9 inches) in length.
It eats insects, occasional mollusks, and even aquatic plants, according
to Worthington (1933). This widely
distributed species, found from the Congo basin to the Pongolo River
system in Natal (Jubb, 1967), is one of
only two characins found in Lake Malawi.
It is seen in shoals swimming around estuaries and sheltered lake waters,
particularly in the southern part of the lake
(Jackson, 1961).
An excellent summary of the biology of B. imberi throughout its vast
range is available, in French,
here.
Recently, Brycinus, Alestes,
and all other African characins have been removed from the family
Characidae to a separate family Alestiidae by some authorities, although
the phylogenetic evidence for this is still controversial.
The above illustration by Hilda M. Jubb, from
Jubb (1967), is used by kind
permission of Mr. A. T. Balkema of
A. A. Balkema
Publishers, Rotterdam.
