Clarias dumerilii Steindachner, 1866
Clarias dumerilii
photo by Musschoot, T.

Family:  Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes)
Max. size:  30.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: middle and upper Congo River basin (Ref. 248), restricted to eastern Kasaï, Aruwimi basin and Upper Congo (Ref. 101841). Also reported from the Cueve (=lower Cuvo) and Kunene in Angola (Ref. 120641).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 65-81; Anal soft rays: 51-62; Vertebrae: 57-62. Diagnosis: head oval-shaped to rectangular dorsally; snout broadly rounded; eyes more laterally placed; frontal fontanelle extremely long and narrow; occipital fontanelle oval-shaped to rounded; tooth plates extremely broad (Ref. 248). Supraorbital and `dermosphenotic' bones separated; dermosphenotic somewhat reduced and shows a clearly marked notch (Ref. 248, 101841) although this notch is not observed in all specimens (Ref. 101841). Pectoral spine straight and robust; gill rakers relatively long and distantly set; openings of the secondary sensory canals regularly arranged (Ref. 248). Suprabranchial organ reduced to virtually absent (Ref. 248, 101841). Colouration: preserved fish show uniform colouration: dorsum, flanks and upper side of paired fins dark brown; ventrum and ventral parts of paired fins light grey to beige; no information known on colouration of living specimens (Ref. 248).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 May 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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