Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 16, 2026

Citharinus citharus

Citharinus citharus, commonly called moonfish or mleke, is a species of lutefish from tropical Africa. C. citharus has detritivorous habits leading to its stomach containing high volumes of indigestible materials such as chitin, cellulose, and lignin. This species has adapted to digest protein and organic matter at a fast rate so that it can reach its nutritional needs while having a high concentration of indigestible material in its stomach.

Last revised
Jun 16, 2026
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≈ 1 min
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Wikipedia ↗
Citharinus citharus
Representation of the fish
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Citharinidae
Genus: Citharinus
Species:
C. citharus
Binomial name
Citharinus citharus
Synonyms2
  • Serrasalmus citharus Geoffroy St. Hilaire, 1809
  • Citharinus geoffroei Cuvier, 1829
  • Distichodus marnoi Steindachner, 1881
  • Citharinus citharus intermedius Worthington, 1932

Citharinus citharus, commonly called moonfish or mleke, is a species of lutefish from tropical Africa.32 C. citharus has detritivorous habits leading to its stomach containing high volumes of indigestible materials such as chitin, cellulose, and lignin. This species has adapted to digest protein and organic matter at a fast rate so that it can reach its nutritional needs while having a high concentration of indigestible material in its stomach.4

Subspecies

  • Citharinus citharus citharus nominate subspecies VU in Uganda5
  • Citharinus citharus intermedius Worthington, 1932 LC
References

References

  1. Lalèyè, P. (2020). "Citharinus citharus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T182293A134901775. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T182293A134901775.en. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  2. Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Citharinus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  3. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Citharinus citharus". FishBase. August 2019 version.
  4. Blé, M. C.; Arfi, R. (2009). "Seasonal effects on the nutritive value of the natural food of three omnivorous fish ( Oreochromis niloticus , Sarotherodon galilaeus , Citharinus citharus ) in Batamani Pond (Mali, West Africa)". Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems (393): 03. doi:10.1051/kmae/2009014. ISSN 1961-9502.
  5. Bayona, J.D.R. (2010). "Citharinus citharus ssp. citharus (Eastern Africa assessment)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010 e.T183053A8046287. Retrieved 28 September 2023.