| Family: |
Amphiliidae (Loach catfishes), subfamily: Amphiliinae |
| Max. size: |
10.84 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Amphilius platychir platychir: upper tributaries of the Senegal, Niger, Gambia, Corubal, Konkouré and Little Scarcies; A. p. marmoratus: rivers Loffa, St. Paul and Cavally in southeastern Guinea (Ref. 57128). Reports from eastern Africa (Tanzania, Congo basin in Zambia) based on misidentifications (see Ref. 78218).
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| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): -0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: -0; Anal soft rays: 9-10. Diagnosis: dorsal-fin base distinctly ahead of pelvic-fin insertions; predorsal distance rather
short (about 40% of standard length); interorbital space about 35% of head length; caudal-peduncle length 1.5-2 times its depth; length of maxillary barbel over 75% of head length; snout rather long and blunt, its length usually 50-55% of head length; branchiostegal membrane moderately notched on midventral line (Ref. 57128).
Description: head depressed; eyes small; nostrils positioned on anterior half of snout; barbels slender, usually slightly shorter than head; pectoral and pelvic fins broad; caudal fin forked, its lower lobe usually somewhat longer than upper lobe; urogenital papilla of males well developed, but short; 6+7 principal caudal fin rays (Ref. 57128).
Coloration: back usually brown, belly lighter; 2 horizontal light bands, one above, the other below lateral line; black line in front of eyes; specimens from Southeastern Guinea (Mt. Nimba) are distinctly brown-and-cream-spotted and belong to a different sub-species A. platychir marmoratus (Ref. 57128). |
| Biology: |
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| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 June 2019 Ref. (130435)
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| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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