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Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Amphiliidae (Loach catfishes) > Amphiliinae
Etymology: Amphilius: Greek, amphi = on both sides + Greek, leios = fat.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical; 20°C - 25°C (Ref. 2059); 0°S - 30°S
Africa: widespread in Central and East Africa (Ref. 7248, 94654) up to the Mkuze system in South Africa (Ref. 7248). Also in the upper Congo drainage as well as the Zambezi and Okavango, and west to Angola (Ref. 87869). Possibly absent from the upper Little Ruaha and Malawi drainage in Tanzania, and from the northern Malagarasi where this species may be replaced by A. kivuensis (Ref. 78218).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 19.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 52331)
Prefers clear, flowing water in rocky habitats. Feeds on stream insects and other small organisms off rock surfaces. Breeds in summer. Juveniles are easily mistaken for tadpoles. Preyed upon by trout and probably eels (Ref. 7248).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Skelton, P.H., 1993. A complete guide to the freshwater fishes of southern Africa. Southern Book Publishers. 388 p. (Ref. 7248)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 126983)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of potential interest; aquarium: potential
More information
Common namesSynonymsMetabolismPredatorsEcotoxicologyReproductionMaturitySpawningSpawning aggregationFecundityEggsEgg development
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingNutrientsMass conversion
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