| Claroteidae (Claroteid catfishes), subfamily: Auchenoglanidinae |
| 15.1 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
demersal; freshwater |
| Africa: from the Ouémé River in Benin to the rivers Sanaga (Ref. 50834, 78218, 81642) and Dja (middle Congo River basin) (Ref. 51193) in Cameroon. Also present in the middle Congo River basin in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 41580, 41585, 41590, 41591, 46861). |
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Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: -0; Anal soft rays: 7-8. Diagnosis: caudal peduncle short and broad, its depth more than 2 times the horizontal distance between anal and adipose fin bases, rarely even deeper; anterior edge of pectoral spine coarsely serrated, with numerous small serrations, more numerous than those along the posterior edge (Ref. 81642). Barbels generally short: maxillary barbel reaching a little beyond pectoral spine base, external mandibular barbel not reaching tip of spine (Ref. 81642) but up to level of dorsal-fin spine, and inner mandibular barbel up to beginning of opercula (Ref. 57126), but it should however be noted that some juvenile specimens have slightly longer barbels (Ref. 81642). Adipose fin not always high and solid; colour pattern usually with 5-7 vertical bands (Ref. 81642).
Description: body and head moderately elevated; preorbital length not greater than head depth (Ref. 81642). Occipital process sometimes touching 1st nuchal plate in adults; head rather broad (width over 2/3 of length); maxillary barbel reaching up to hind margin of gill cover; nasal barbels absent; premaxillary tooth plate slightly curved and rather long (2.5-3.4 times as broader as long), its width 11-16% of head length; number of gill rakers on first gill arch: 3/7-8 (Ref. 57126).
Coloration: preserved specimens: brown or greyish brown with (4)5-6(7) dark bars on flanks; in some specimens these bars are formed of large confluent blotches; small spots may be present between the bands; the degree of pigmentation shows intraspecific variation (Ref. 81642). Centres of the darker cross-bars on flanks with 7-8 blackish dots aligned transversely to the body axis (Ref. 57126). |
| Nocturnal and crepuscular; preys on insect larvae, crustaceans, and small fishes (Ref. 6868). Maximum reported total length 24.5cm (Ref. 3236). |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 30 April 2019 Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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