| Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes) |
| 35.6 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
|
demersal; freshwater |
| Africa: from the coastal rivers of south Cameroon (up to the Sanaga river) southwards to the Ogooué system in Gabon and the middle Congo basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 78218). Outside this area also reported from the Lualaba/upper Congo (Ref. 106245), the Kouilou-Niari in Republic of Congo (Ref. 92841), the Niger Delta (Ref. 57129) and Cross River in Nigeria (Ref. 31256, 57129), and from the Chad (Ref. 13331). A report from the Oueme River in Benin needs confirmation (Ref. 57129, 81644). |
|
Dorsal spines (total): -0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 81-95; Anal spines: -0; Anal soft rays: 63-76; Vertebrae: 65-67. Diagnosis: head length 19.6-24.6% SL (Ref. 81644). Head pointed in dorsal outline; snout short; tooth plates small; eyes dorsally located; "dermosphenotic" and supraorbital bones joined in specimens over 80 mm SL (Ref. 248). Frontal fontanella long and narrow ("knife-shaped")(Ref. 248, 57129, 81644). Occipital process long and oval-shaped (Ref. 248). Distance between occipital process and dorsal-fin base 4.3-10.5% SL (m = 8.1) (Ref. 81644). Gill rakers long, slender and distantly set (Ref. 248), 11-19 on 1st gill arch (Ref. 81644). Suprabranchial organ well developed (Ref. 248). Pectoral spine serrated on both sides (Ref. 57129), strongly on posterior face, weakly on anterior face (Ref. 81644). 65-67 vertebrae (Ref. 57129).
Coloration: no information on colour in life (Ref. 57129). Preserved specimens uniformly dark brown on back and sides, and yellowish-brown on belly (Ref. 57129, 81644). Vertical series of small white spots on flanks (Ref. 57129). |
| Nothing is known on the biology and reproduction of this species (Ref. 78218). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 April 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
|
Known from the middle Congo River basin (Ref. 248, 78218), including Kasai (Ref. 248), Lukenie (Ref. 127185), Ubangi (Ref. 248), Lomami (Ref. 248, 106245), Sankuru (Ref. 13455), Aruwimi, Itimbiri, Lindi-Tshopo (Ref. 106290), Wagenia Falls (Ref. 106245) and River Luilaka in Ruki drainage (Ref. 93897). Also recorded from the Luki (lower Congo River basin) (Ref. 88782) and Lualaba (Ref. 106245). Also Ref. 106290. |
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