Author: (Peters, 1852)
FBname: Sharptooth tetra
Remark: Affinities: most similar to <i>M. elongatus</i>, from which it differs in the presence of multicuspid (vs conical, monocuspid) inner dentary teeth, inner premaxillary and outer dentary teeth with greater number of cusps and a slightly more robus body (Ref. 80290). 
Comments: Shoals in clear, flowing or standing, open water; appears to co-exist with the tigerfish <i>Hydrocynus forskalii</i> in open water although it is heavily preyed upon by that predator, particularly those shoals of tigerfish ranging up to 45 cm in length (Ref. 13337). Omnivorous, often feeding from surface waters on winged insects; also takes insect larvae, crustaceans and eggs and fry of other fish (Ref. 13337). Matures after a year; partial spawner of moderate fecundity, with usually fewer than 700 eggs per female; shoals migrate upstream after first summer rains; breeds throughout the summer months; used as forage fish and as bait for tigerfish and pike (Ref. 7248).