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Chiloglanis emarginatus Jubb & Le Roux, 1969 Phongolo suckermouth |
| Family: | Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes), subfamily: Chiloglanidinae | |||
| Max. size: | 6.5 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range - 0 m | |||
| Distribution: | Africa: two areas: tributaries of the Phongolo and Komato-Incomati rivers in South Africa and Swaziland (Ref. 7248, 52193), and the Pungwe and middle and lower Zambezi in Zimbabwe (Ref. 7248, 52193). | |||
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-6; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 11-1. Description: Mouth is used as a sucking disc to hold its position in fast flowing waters; relative long barbels; mandibular teeth widely spaced, up to 8 (Ref. 52116, 52193). Dorsal fin with 1 spine and 6 soft rays; anal fin with 3 unbranched and 8 branched rays; caudal fin is emarginate (Ref. 52193). Gut length is less than standard length and the mandibular teeth are used to scrape invertebrates from stones (Ref. 52116). Colouration: Skin rough, with tiny white warts; brown with dark brown shadows, lateral line whitish; fins light yellow with black bands and a dark edge to the caudal (Ref. 52193). |
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| Biology: | Found in shallow rocky runs and riffles of clear rivers, at an altitude of 900-1200 m above sea level, and depths from 0.2 to 0.4 m (Ref. 52116, 52193). It feeds on invertebrates such as mayfly nymphs and caddis fly, blackfly or midge larvae grazed from rocks (Ref. 52193). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Breeds in summer (Ref. 7248, 52193). Distribution in southern Africa is restricted and may be threatened by alteration of its habitat (Ref. 52116), by water extraction, river regulation and sedimentation (Ref. 52193). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 14 November 2017 (B1ab(iii,iv)+2ab(iii,iv)) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||