Royal sprat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal sprat |
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| Mounted specimen of Microthrissa royauxi in the Royal Museum for Central Africa | |
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Microthrissa royauxi, also known as the royal sprat, is a small freshwater fish. It belongs to the herring family, called Clupeidae. You can find this fish in the Congo River basin in West Africa. A scientist named George Albert Boulenger first described it in 1902. People sometimes catch royal sprats for food, but they are not a main food source. Scientists say this fish is of "Least Concern" for its survival.
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About the Royal Sprat
What's in a Name?
The royal sprat was named by George Albert Boulenger in 1902. He found the first fish in the Ubangi River. Its scientific name, Microthrissa royauxi, has a special meaning. "Micro" means small, and "thrissa" comes from an old Greek word for a type of anchovy.
The second part of its name, royauxi, honors Capitaine Louis Joseph Royaux. He led the trip that found this fish. He also helped collect the names of many animals from local people. The royal sprat is the main species in its group, called Microthrissa.
What Does It Look Like?
The royal sprat is a small fish. It has a body that is quite deep, almost one-third of its total length. Its snout, or nose, is a bit pointed. Unlike some other fish, its lower jaw does not stick out.
This fish has special scales called "scutes" on its belly. These scutes are like small, sharp ridges. They are found just before its front fins. The shape of its jaws also helps scientists tell it apart from similar fish. Royal sprats have narrower jaws compared to their relatives. This fish can grow up to about 9.9 centimeters (almost 4 inches) long. However, most royal sprats are about 8 centimeters (about 3 inches) long.
Where Does It Live?
You can find the royal sprat in the middle part of the Congo River basin. This includes rivers like the Ubangi. However, it does not live in the Kasai River. This fish has been seen in several countries. These include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Congo, the Central African Republic, and Cameroon. It has also been found in Pool Malebo and the Lualaba River near Kindu.
How It Evolved
Most fish in the herring family live in the ocean. But the royal sprat belongs to a group called Pellonulinae. Many fish in this group live in freshwater in southern and western Africa. For example, Limnothrissa miodon lives in Lake Tanganyika. Potamothrissa acuitirostris lives in the Congo Basin.
Scientists believe that the ancestors of these freshwater fish moved from the ocean to freshwater. This happened a very long time ago, about 25 to 50 million years ago. At that time, the ocean had spread far into this part of Africa. Over millions of years, these fish changed and adapted to freshwater. They then spread across Africa, living in different rivers and lakes.
Its Home
The royal sprat is a fish that lives in the open waters of large rivers. It does not stay close to the bottom or hide in plants.
Fishing for Sprats
The royal sprat is not a major fish for food. Local fishermen sometimes catch it. They usually catch it to feed their own families, not for selling in large amounts.
