Red Spot Mudsucker

Diagnosis: snout prominent, large and somewhat pointed, 44.6-60.0% of HL, with a deep and wide transverse furrow and ending in a fleshy appendage; scale formula: 34-37 (35 commonly observed); 4.5-6.5 (5.5 commonly observed); 3.0-4.5 (4.0 commonly observed); 13-17 (16 commonly observed); dorsal fin with 3 unbranched and 9-10 (10 commonly observed) branched rays; upper edge of dorsal fin always concave; 29-31 (30 commonly observed) vertebrae; ventral fin origin located under the 4th branched dorsal ray; genital opening distant from anal fin origin; no longitudinal band on flanks or spot on scaled base of caudal fin (Ref. 81639). Description: body moderately laterally compressed; maxillary barbels small and hidden in skin folds at mouth corners, rostral barbels minute and hidden in rostral fold; ventral fins short, not reaching to genital opening, with an insertion beneath 4th branched dorsal ray (Ref. 81639).Coloration: in preservation, dark brown dorsally, light brown to whitish ventrally; according to Ref. 52342 the holotype is dark olive dorsally and whitish on the belly (Ref. 81639).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 1213; Vertebrae: 29 - 31

fisheries:

Labeo lukulae, the red-spot mudsucker, is a species of freshwater cyprinid fish in the genus Labeo. It is found in western Africa from Cameroon south to Angola. It is exploited for human consumption.