{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use South African English|date=February 2026}} {{Speciesbox | image = Brycinus imberi 70328476 (cropped).jpg | image_alt = Side view of a fish specimen | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn">{{cite web |last1=Tweddle |first1=D. |last2=Bills |first2=R. |last3=Cambray |first3=J. |last4=Hanssens |first4=M. |last5=Kazembe |first5=J. |last6=Marshall |first6=B. |last7=Moelants |first7=T. |title=''Brachyalestes imberi'' (Spot-tail Robber) |website=[[IUCN Red List]] |url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/183002/99426575 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T183002A99426575.en |date=2018 |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref> | genus = Brachyalestes | species = imberi | authority = [[Wilhelm Peters|Peters]], 1852 | synonyms = * ''Alestes bequaerti'' [[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger]], 1920 * ''Alestes curtus'' Boulenger, 1920 * ''Alestes fuchsii'' Boulenger, 1899 * ''Alestes imberi'' Peters, 1852 * ''Alestes lemairii'' Boulenger, 1899 * ''Brycinus imberi'' (Peters, 1852) | synonyms_ref = <ref name="iucn" /> }}
'''''Brachyalestes imberi''''' is a [[species]] of [[freshwater fish]] in the African tetra family ([[Alestidae]]) of order [[Characiformes]]. It is found in lakes and rivers across much of [[sub-Saharan Africa]]. It grows to a maximum size of {{convert|19.8|cm|in}} in [[total length]] and {{convert|300|g|oz}}.
==Taxonomy== ''Brachyalestes imberi'' was first [[species description|described]] by [[Wilhelm Peters]] in 1852<ref name="fishbase">{{cite web |title=''Brachyalestes imberi'' (Peters, 1852) |website=[[FishBase]] |url=https://fishbase.org/summary/Brycinus-imberi.html |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref> under the [[basionym]] ''Alestes imberi''.<ref name="gbif">{{cite web |title=''Brycinus imberi'' (Peters, 1852) |website=[[GBIF]] |url=https://www.gbif.org/species/2356333 |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref> The species has also been referred to by the [[synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]]s ''Alestes bequaerti'', ''Alestes curtus'', ''Alestes fuchsii'', ''Alestes lemairii'', and ''Brycinus imberi''.<ref name="iucn" /> It is classified in the [[Alestidae]] family (the African tetras) in the order [[Characiformes]].<ref name="fishbase" /> It is also known by the [[common name]]s spot-tail robber, spot-tailed robber, spot-tail, characin, imberi,<ref name="iucn" /> and silversides.<ref>{{cite web |title=Common names of ''Brachyalestes imberi'' |website=[[FishBase]] |url=https://fishbase.org/ComNames/5238 |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref>
Five [[syntype]]s serve as the [[type specimen]]s of the species and are housed at the [[Natural History Museum, London]]:<ref name="gbif" /> BMNH 1861.3.10.1-2, collected from the [[Zambezi]] in Mozambique;<ref>{{cite web |title=Occurrence 1055677131 |website=[[GBIF]] |url=https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1055677131 |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref> BMNH 1901.12.21.25-26, collected from the [[Upper Congo River]] in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC);<ref>{{cite web |title=Occurrence 1057286352 |website=[[GBIF]] |url=https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1057286352 |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref> BMNH 1899.11.27.97, collected from [[Lake Mweru]] in the DRC;<ref>{{cite web |title=Occurrence 1056908510 |website=[[GBIF]] |url=https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1056908510 |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref> BMNH 1899.9.26.94, collected from [[Lake Leopold II]] in [[Kutu, Democratic Republic of the Congo|Kutu, DRC]];<ref>{{cite web |title=Occurrence 1056415315 |website=[[GBIF]] |url=https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1056415315 |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref> and BMNH 1896.3.9.22-3, collected from the [[Congo River]] in the DRC.<ref>{{cite web |title=Occurrence 1055421458 |website=[[GBIF]] |url=https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1055421458 |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref>
==Distribution and habitat== [[File:Brycinus imberi 23996744.jpg|thumb|''Brachyalestes imberi''|alt=Side view of a fish specimen]] ''Brachyalestes imberi'' is widely distributed in [[West Africa|West]], [[East Africa|East]], and [[Southern Africa]]. It can be found in the nations of Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It inhabits bodies of water including [[Lake Malawi]], [[Lake Chilwa]], [[Lake Chiuta]], [[Lake Rukwa]], [[Lake Kariba]], and the [[Shire River|Shire]], [[Mono River|Mono]], [[Cestos River|Nipoué]], [[Malagarasi River|Malagarasi]], [[Rusizi River|Rusizi]], [[Phongolo River|Phongolo]], [[Limpopo River|Limpopo]], [[Rufiji River|Rufiji]], [[Ruvuma River|Ruvuma]], [[Wami River|Wami]], [[Quanza River|Quanza]], [[Nyanga River|Nyanga]], [[Cunene River|Cunene]], and middle and lower [[Zambezi]] rivers, as well as throughout the [[Congo Basin]].<ref name="iucn" /><ref name="fishbase" />
''Brachyalestes imberi'' inhabits shallow waters in swampy bays of lakes and rivers with a [[pH]] of 6.0–6.5. A [[demersal fish]], it lives near the bottom of the water column. It prefers rocky or sandy substrates.<ref name="iucn" /><ref name="fishbase" />
==Description== [[File:Brycinus imberi 73052218.jpg|thumb|''Brachyalestes imberi''|alt=Side view of a fish specimen]] ''Brachyalestes imberi'' has a fusiform body with cycloid scales. It is silver in colouration, though darker on the back and lighter on the belly. It has a black [[humeral spot]] and a black spot at the base of the [[caudal fin]] that may extend into the fin's [[ray (fish fin anatomy)|ray]]s. The colour of the fins varies by locality but can be yellow, red, black, or brown. The [[premaxilla]] has two rows of eight teeth each. There are 21–31 scales on the [[lateral line]], 4.5 scales above the lateral line, and 3.5 scales below it. The [[anal fin]] has 14–18 rays, and the fish has 16–20 [[gill raker]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Morphology Summary - ''Brachyalestes imberi'' |website=[[FishBase]] |url=https://fishbase.org/physiology/Brachyalestes_imberi |access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref> It reaches up to {{convert|19.8|cm|in|abbr=on}} in [[total length]] and {{convert|300|g|oz|abbr=on}}.<ref name="fishbase" />
==Biology and ecology== ''Brachyalestes imberi'' feeds on insects, fishes, crustaceans, and vegetation. It is preyed upon by [[Hydrocynus|tigerfish]]. During the summer rainy season, it [[Animal migration|migrates]] to floodplains to [[Spawning|spawn]].<ref name="iucn" /><ref name="fishbase" /> Its lifespan is up to five years.<ref name="fishbase" />
==Conservation== ''Brachyalestes imberi'' is assessed as a [[least concern species]] on the [[IUCN Red List]] due to its wide range and a lack of major threats to its population. Its population has declined in some parts of its distribution, including in South Africa and [[Lake Rukwa]], due to [[habitat loss]].<ref name="iucn" />
This species is taken by [[subsistence fishermen]] and is used in the [[aquarium]] industry. It is also used as live bait when [[angling]] for larger fish.<ref name="fishbase" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q3643481}}
[[Category:Fish described in 1852]] [[Category:Brachyalestes|imberi]] [[Category:Freshwater fish of Angola]] [[Category:Freshwater fish of West Africa]] [[Category:Fish of Botswana]] [[Category:Fish of Burundi]] [[Category:Freshwater fish of Cameroon]] [[Category:Fish of the Central African Republic]] [[Category:Fish of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] [[Category:Fish of Eswatini]] [[Category:Fish of Malawi]] [[Category:Fish of Mozambique]] [[Category:Freshwater fish of South Africa]] [[Category:Freshwater fish of Tanzania]] [[Category:Fish of Zambia]] [[Category:Fish of Zimbabwe]] [[Category:Fish of Lake Malawi]] [[Category:Fish of Lake Rukwa]] [[Category:Taxa named by Wilhelm Peters]]