| Family: |
Claroteidae (Claroteid catfishes), subfamily: Auchenoglanidinae |
| Max. size: |
38 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; pH range: 6.19999980926514 - 7.5; dH range: 4 - 25 |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Kasai River drainage (middle Congo River basin), upper Zambezi and Okavango (Ref. 52193, 78218, 79566). Specimens from the Kasai possibly belong to a different species (Ref. 78218). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-14. Description: Head large, moderately depressed and pointed; mouth with fleshy lips, fine bristle-like teeth on a small square pad in upper jaw and along lower jaw, and 3 pairs of thick-based barbels of which the outer mandibular is longest; nostrils widely separated, anterior openings small tubes from upper lip, posterior simple slits (Ref. 52193). Dorsal fin with 1 spine and 7 soft rays; anal fin with 4-5 unbranched and 8-9 branched rays; dorsal and pectoral fins with a strong spine, dorsal spine weakly serrated, pectoral spines serrated along inner edge only; adipose fin large, extends from behind dorsal to caudal peduncle; caudal fin rounded (Ref. 52193). Colouration: Yellow-brown with scattered black spots and 5-7 vertical lines of black spots along body, fins spotted (Ref. 52193). |
| Biology: |
It prfers rocky habitats or marginal vegetation in slow-flowing rivers and lagoons, often taking shelter under trees (Ref. 52193). It feeds on small fishes and invertebrates like snails, shrimps and insects (Ref. 52193). Eggs are large and relatively few, suggesting parental care, but no details are know (Ref. 52193). It 'grunts' when removed from the water (Ref. 7248, 52193). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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