African wedgefish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids African wedgefish |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Rhynchobatus
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| Species: |
luebberti
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The African wedgefish is a special type of fish. It is also known as the guitarra or spikenose wedgefish. Its scientific name is Rhynchobatus luebberti. This fish is the only one of its kind (genus) found in the East Atlantic Ocean. It belongs to the Rhinidae family.
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What's in a Name?
This fish is named after Hans Julius Lübbert. He was a German fisheries inspector. He lived from 1870 to 1951.
Appearance of the African Wedgefish
African wedgefish are usually a pale olive-brown or olive-grey color. They have white spots spread across their back. The edges of their fins can sometimes be lighter in color.
They have a group of three black marks on each side of a ridge. This ridge runs along their back. You can also find another dark mark near these spots. The area around each fish's eye is lighter. It looks a bit like a mask.
These fish also have ridges near their front. These ridges have a row of thorns.
Size of the African Wedgefish
The African wedgefish can grow very long. The longest ones can reach about 3 meters (9.8 feet). However, they are usually around 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) long. They have many bones in their spine, called vertebrae. They have about 172 to 176 of these bones.
Where They Live
The African wedgefish lives in the warm waters of the East Atlantic Ocean. You can find them along the coasts of many countries. These include Angola, Benin, Cameroon, and the Republic of the Congo. They also live near the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, and Equatorial Guinea. Other countries include Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, and Guinea. They are also found in Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Nigeria. Finally, they live near Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Their Home Environment
Their natural homes are shallow seas. They also live near coral reefs and in estuarine waters. Estuarine waters are where rivers meet the sea. They can also be found in coastal salty lagoons.
What They Eat
The African wedgefish eats smaller animals. They hunt small bony fish. They also eat invertebrates, which are animals without a backbone.
Life Cycle of the African Wedgefish
How They Are Born
African wedgefish are ovoviviparous. This means their eggs stay inside the mother's body. The eggs hatch inside her. The young fish then come out alive.
When they are embryos, they first get food from a yolk. After that, they get nutrition from their mother. She provides them with a special fluid. This fluid has mucus, fat, or protein. The embryos absorb this fluid through special body parts.
Protecting the African Wedgefish
The African wedgefish is currently in great danger. It is listed as critically endangered. This means there are very few of them left.
Dangers They Face
The main threats to these fish are two things. One is habitat loss. This means their natural homes are being destroyed or changed. The other threat is from poachers. Poachers are people who illegally hunt or catch animals.
