Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes)
Etymology: Clarias: Greek, chlaros = lively, in reference to the ability of the fish to live for a long time out of water.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical; 22°C - 28°C (Ref. 13614); 12°N - 4°N
Africa: from the Géba (Guinea-Bissau) to the Cavally (Côte d'Ivoire) (Ref. 57129). Also reported from the Casamance (Senegal)(Ref. 57129).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 50.8 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 57129)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 79 - 93; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 67 - 79; Vertebrae: 63 - 68. Diagnosis: typical extremely elongate, eel-shaped body (maximum body depth 8.7-13.9% of standard length); head length 20.2% SL (Ref. 57129). Head rather rectangular in dorsal outline; snout broadly rounded; eyes more dorsally located; frontal fontanelle intermediate between "knife-shaped" and "sole-shaped"; occipital fontanelle broadly oval-shaped; "dermosphenotic" and supraorbital bones are joined; tooth plates relatively small; premaxillary longer than vomerine (Ref. 248). Distance between occipital process and dorsal-fin base relatively large (8.3-12.4% of standard length); dorsal and anal fins (67.7-75.0% and 50.6-58.9%, respectively, of standard length) very long and sometimes partially confluent with caudal fin (Ref. 57129). Pectoral spine serrated on both sides (Ref. 248, 57129). Gill rakers long and distantly set (Ref. 248).
Coloration: fresh specimens dark brown on back; sides marked with irregular blackish spots, belly light brown to beige; a vertical bar may be present on caudal fin (Ref. 57129). Flanks with vertical rows of small white spots (Ref. 248, 57129).
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Occurs in river systems which arise in mountainous areas and are entirely within the rain forest (Ref. 248). Very little is known about the biology, but on basis of its distribution the species appears to be restricted to the rain forest (Ref. 78218).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Teugels, G.G., 1986. A systematic revision of the African species of the genus Clarias (Pisces; Clariidae). Ann. Mus. R. Afr. Centr., Sci. Zool., 247:199 p. (Ref. 248)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00776 (0.00343 - 0.01757), b=2.97 (2.79 - 3.15), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (40 of 100).
