| Claroteidae (Claroteid catfishes), subfamily: Claroteinae |
| 80 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 10,000.0 g |
|
demersal; freshwater, anadromous |
| Africa: present in all Nilo-Sudanese basins, including Chad, Benue, Niger, Senegal, and Volta (Ref. 57126). Also in East Africa and Nile basin (Ref. 3236, 28714). |
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Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-7; Anal spines: -0. Diagnosis: adipose fin rayed in adults, 1st ray forming a spine (not visible in juveniles); adipose-fin rays becoming visible at sizes of 90-100 mm SL, and the spine at 200 mm; dentition very well developed: premaxillary tooth plate broad (38-45% of head length), palatine dentition consisting of an elongate vomerine plate and of a dermo-palatine plate in young individuals (60-70 mm SL); palatine tooth plates narrow and long with much weaker dentition; nasal barbel long, reaching at least to anterior part of orbit; maxillary barbel very long, exceeding at least the anterior part of dorsal fin and often reaching to adipose fin; caudal-fin lobes marked by a dark band; cranial bones well developed; length of occipital process usually less than 1.4 times its width (Ref. 57126).
Description: nasal barbels present; pelvic fins with 1 unbranched and 5 branched soft rays; anal fin with 4-6 unbranched and 7-9 branched soft rays (Ref. 57126). Adipose fin in adults has a stiff spine (Ref. 4967).
Coloration: rather uniformly brownish, but often 2 dark bands along body extending unto the caudal-fin lobes (Ref. 57126). |
| Inhabits rivers (Ref 4967). Feeds on crustaceans, insects, mollusks and fish (Ref. 28714). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 October 2019 Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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Known from the Northern Ewaso Nyiro River (Ref. 52331), Dawa River of Juba system (Ref. 52331), Galana-Sabaki River (Ref. 52331), Athi River (Ref. 30558), Tsavo drainage (Ref. 30558, Ref. 52331) and lower Tana River (Ref. 52331). The taxonomic status of the Kenyan populations is uncertain and needs detailed study (Ref. 52331). |
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