Moonfish
A tropical African lutefish that eats detritus.
The moonfish is a species of lutefish found in tropical Africa. It feeds on detritus and digests organic matter quickly to handle indigestible materials. Two subspecies are recognised, including one in Uganda.
- Found in tropical Africa
- Feeds on detritus and indigestible matter
- Has a diploid chromosome count of 40
- Includes subspecies in Uganda
What it is
The moonfish, also known as mleke, is a species of lutefish native to tropical Africa. It belongs to the genus Citharinus. This fish has adapted to a diet rich in indigestible materials. Its stomach often contains high volumes of substances like chitin, cellulose, and lignin. To survive on such poor quality food, it digests protein and organic matter at a rapid rate. This physiological adaptation allows it to meet its nutritional needs despite the low value of its intake. The diploid chromosome count for this species is forty.
Where it lives
This species is found across tropical Africa. It inhabits freshwater systems within this broad region. One specific subspecies, the nominate Citharinus citharus citharus, is recorded in Uganda. Another subspecies, Citharinus citharus intermedius, was described by Worthington in 1932. The distribution covers various water bodies suitable for lutefish in the tropics.
How it lives
The moonfish exhibits detritivorous feeding habits. It consumes decaying organic material from the bottom of water bodies. Because this diet includes hard-to-digest items like plant fibres and insect exoskeletons, the fish has evolved a fast digestive process. This speed helps it extract enough nutrients before passing the waste.
Breeding and life cycle
Details about the spawning habits, egg development, or growth rates of the young are not provided in the available records.
Fish and people
It does not appear to have a significant role in local culture or faith traditions based on the provided information.
Status and threats
No protection measures or legal listings are mentioned.
Questions people ask about Moonfish
What does the moonfish eat?
It is detritivorous, meaning it feeds on decaying organic matter. Its stomach often contains indigestible materials like chitin, cellulose, and lignin.
Where is the moonfish found?
This species lives in tropical Africa. One subspecies is specifically noted in Uganda, while another was described by Worthington in 1932.
How does it digest its food?
It has adapted to digest protein and organic matter very quickly. This allows it to get nutrients despite having a stomach full of indigestible material.
Good reading and sources
- Citharinus citharus on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Citharinus citharus", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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