| Family: |
Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes) |
| Max. size: |
16.1 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater, |
| Distribution: |
Africa: known only from the type locality, Aigumas Cave, North Otavi, Namibia. Major threat is depletion of ground water (Ref. 7248). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 71-76; Anal soft rays: 66-61. Devoid of pigment. Eyes extremely small; covered with skin; dorsally located. Head rectangular in dorsal outline; snout broadly rounded. Frontal fontanelle long and narrow; occipital fontanelle long and oval-shaped. Supraorbital and `dermosphenotic' bones fused. Premaxillary tooth plate rather broad. gill rakers long, slender and distantly set. Suprabranchial organ greatly reduced. Openings of the secondary sensory canals regularly arranged along flanks. |
| Biology: |
Lacks pigment. Lives in caves (Ref. 248) and is adapted to life underground (Ref. 78218); over shelves in open, clear water. Feeds on bat droppings, animal carcasses and terrestrial insects that fall into the lake (Ref. 7248). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 01 March 2007 (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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