Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes)
Etymology: Tanganikallabes: Composed from lake Tanganyka + Greek, allabes, -etos = a fish of the Nile, a kind of lamprey (Ref. 45335); alboperca: The specific epithet, alboperca, is a combination of the latin adjective alba, meaning white, and the noun operculum, meaning lid or cover, a reference to the distinctive depigmented posterior margin seen in the operculum of this species (Ref. 90118).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Africa: Lake Tanganyika (Ref. 90118).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 90118)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 65 - 74; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 55 - 63. Diagnosis: Tanganikallabes alboperca is distinguished from all congeners by its relatively shorter pelvic fins, 6.0-7.7% of standard length vs. 7.1-9.3% in other Tanganikallabes species, which do not reach past the origin of the anal fin when adpressed, vs. reaching past the anal fin origin; it is also distinct from other Tanganikallabes species in the presence of a well-defined, depigmented border on the operculum, which extends from the upper margin of the operculum all the way to the union of the gill membranes at the isthmus, vs. border absent in Tanganikallabes mortiauxi and Tanganikallabes stewarti (Ref. 90118). Tanganikallabes alboperca is further distinguished from T. mortiauxi by its premaxillary toothpad shape, which is uniformly thin, broad crescent, vs. widest point anteroposteriorly thicker; io-iv and the suprapreopercle consisting of multiple separate elements, vs. a single element; the extensions of the lateral ethmoid not reaching io-ii when viewed from above, vs. nearly or completely overlying io-ii; its incomplete lateral line, vs. complete; shorter pectoral fin spine, 3.6-5.3% of standard length vs. 5.6-8.8%; generally lower number of dorsal fin rays, 65-74 vs. 72-81; smaller eye, 0.8-1.6% of standard length vs. 1.8-3.0%; and lack of a free lower orbital margin (Ref. 90118). Tanganikallabes alboperca is further separated from T. stewarti by having a relatively deeper body, body depth at anus 11.7-14.6% of standard length vs. 8.7-10.9%; longer lateral line; greater preanal length, 45.2-49.0% of standard length vs. 42.4-44.8%; and by generally having a lower number of anal fin rays, 55-63 vs. 63-69 (Ref. 90118).
It is likely to inhabit rocky bottoms over a range of depths (Ref. 90118). Feeds on fish eggs, platythelphusid crab, and insect larvae (Ref. 90118).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Wright, J.J. and R.M. Bailey, 2012. Systematic revision of the formerly monotypic genus Tanganikallabes (Siluriformes: Clariidae). Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 165:121-142. (Ref. 90118)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00741 (0.00333 - 0.01648), b=2.97 (2.78 - 3.16), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
