Bagrus Degeni
📖 Overview
Caught in reeds and papyrus; feeds on small fish; grows up to 30-40 pounds (= 13-18kg); flesh is good and fish is of high economic importance .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal soft rays: 12 - 13. Head much depressed, smooth above; long and narrow occipital processus, narrowly separated from interneural bone; snout broadly rounded, projecting beyond lower jaw . Eye iris dark, with a vivid yellow ring . Premaxillary band of teeth 6-7 times as long as broad, shorter than and as broad as or a little narrower than the vomerine band; maxillary barbel 1.25-2.33 times head length, extending to end of pectoral fin or a little beyond in adult, to end of ventral in young; nasal barbel 1/7(adult)-1/3 of head length; outer mandibular barbel 1.5-1.83 times length of inner and 0.5-1 times head length; gill-rakers rather long, widely set; dorsal spine smooth, less than 0.5 times head length; longest soft ray of dorsal fin 0.5-0.75 head length; adipose fin 4-5.5 times as long as deep, 1.5-1.66 times as long as dorsal fin; distance between dorsal and adipose fin 0.5-0.66 times dorsal fin length; pectoral spine not serrated in adult; caudal fin deeply forked, upper lobe with long filament . Coloration: species blackish brown or dark steel-blue above, whitish or brassy yellow beneath with grey to blackish fins . Dark, nearly black on the back, fading into silver on the body, tinged with yellow .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Bagrus Degeni is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Bagrus Degeni is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Reproduction data for Bagrus Degeni is currently being compiled.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical; 1°N - 3°S endemic to Lake Victoria (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
small fish; grows up to 30-40 pounds (= 13-18kg); flesh is good and fish is of high economic importa
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Bagrus Degeni is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Detailed nutritional data for Bagrus Degeni is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Bagrus Degeni has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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