| Family: |
Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes) |
| Max. size: |
23 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Lakes Victoria, Kyoga, Edward, Rukwa and Tanganyika (Ref. 248). Also in Malagarasi River (Ref. 27292) and Rusizi River (Ref. 98755). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 65-79; Anal soft rays: 57-64; Vertebrae: 52-55. Pectoral fin spine serrated on both inner and outer sides (Ref. 34290). Head oval-shaped in dorsal outline; snout short and slightly rounded; eyes more dorsally located. Frontal fontanelle long and narrow (`knife-shaped'); occipital fontanelle long and oval-shaped. Supraorbital and `dermospenoticum' joined. Tooth plates relatively small. gill rakers long, slender and distantly set. Suprabranchial organ well developed. Openings of the secondary sensory canals regularly arranged on flanks. |
| Biology: |
Occurs in rivers, streams, swamps and lakes. Occurs along muddy shores and in papyrus swamps in Lake Victoria; also in ponds of rice schemes (Ref. 36900), side-arms of larger waters (Ref. 78218) and in mountainous streams (Ref. 27292). Mainly insectivorous (Ref. 248), a wide variety of insect larvae and crustaceans (Ref. 78218). Also small fish are taken (Ref. 27292). Might undertake mass migrations up rivers and streams, maybe to spawn (Ref. 27292).
|
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 October 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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