Marbled mountain catfish

📖 Overview

Rheophilic species; occurs in rivers and streams with moderate current and gradient . Mostly associated with upper drainages of rivers; in clear and well-oxygenated water . Generally associated with large rocks or mixed cobble and rock substrates . Carnivorous, feeds predominantly on benthic aquatic insects ; insect larvae, worms and other invertebrates are taken . Iteroparous, with asynchronous ovarian development .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 8 - 11; Vertebrae: 31 - 33. Diagnosis: Amphilius jacksonii is diagnosed from all other species of the Amphilius jacksonii complex by its more slender caudal peduncle, 4.8-7.9% of standard length vs. 8.1-12.3% . It is further distinguished from A. pedunculus, A. frieli, and A. crassus by its longer caudal peduncle, caudal-peduncle length 16.7-20.6% of standard length vs. 13.3-18.8%; and from A. frieli, A. crassus, and A. lujani by its more slender body, body depth at anus 9.6-13.2% of standard length vs. 13.5-17.4% . It is further distinguished from A. frieli by having fewer total gill rakers on the first gill arch, 6-9, rarely 10 vs. 10-11, rarely 9 or 12; and from A. ruziziensis by having a wider interorbital width, 26.7-32.0% of head length vs. 23.4-25.1% . It differs from other east and southern African species of Amphilius, including the wide ranging A. uranoscopus, in having fewer total vertebrae, a mode of 6+7 principal caudal rays, and a crenulated epidermal fold at the base of the caudal fin; the latter character is shared with A. platychir and at least some other west African Amphilius species . Amphilius jacksonii is further characterized by the following combination of characters (but not all unique): dorsal and pectoral spines absent; dorsal fin with 7 soft rays; short adipose fin not adnate with caudal fin; pectoral fin with 8-10 soft rays; anal-fin rays 7-10; forked caudal fin with rounded lobes; 31-33 free vertebrae; and variable, heavily mottled pigmentation . It is distinguished from other congeners in the Congo [=Zaire] River, except A. angustifrons and A. notatus, by having fewer total free vertebrae, 31-33 vs. 33-40; from A. angustifrons and A. notatus it is distinguished by fewer pectoral rays, 8-11, mode of 10, vs. 8-9, mode of 9; anal-fin rays, mode of 10 vs. 9; and mensural characters . : elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Marbled mountain catfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

Iteroparous, with asynchronous ovarian development .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; demersal. Tropical; 20°C - 24°C ; 5°N - 3°S

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 94 records indexed .

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