Clarias Buthupogon
📖 Overview
Facultative air-breathing ; Found in lakes, rivers, floodplains and swamps. Bottom feeder, the stomach contained plants, algae, insect larvae (Ephemeroptera, Chironomidae, Ceratopogonidae, Odonata), Entomostraca (Cladocera, Ostracoda), Thecamiba and remains of insects .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 75 - 88; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 55 - 68; Vertebrae: 56 - 63. Diagnosis: head relatively broad, 14.2-20.9% of standard length . Head length 21.0-27.9% SL . Wide interorbital distance , 41.3-51.8% averaging 46.4% of head length . Large tooth plates , width of premaxillary tooth plate 25.9-37.2% of head length (m=29.5), width of vomerine tooth plate 21.0-31.2% of head length . Barbels extremely long , nasal barbel 77.8-187.5%, maxillary barbel 142.9-305.8%, inner mandibular barbell 58.9-128.7%, and outer mandibular barbell 104.3-211.2% of head length . Head rather rectangular in dorsal outline; eyes more laterally located . Frontal fontanelle long and narrow ("knife-shaped") . Occipital fontanelle oval-shaped; pectoral spine robust and slightly curved , strongly serrated on outside and inside . Gill rakers on first branchial arch long and slender; suprabranchial organ well developed, however not completely filling the cavity . Openings of secondary canals of lateral line irregularly placed on the body . Cleithrum mostly embedded in soft tissue, only thin bony ridge is exposed through skin; dorsal fin length 61.5-73.0% SL; distance from dorsal to caudal fin -1.4-2.1% SL . Colouration: both live and preserved specimens usually dark-coloured . 2 types of colouration: one uniform dark brown to black on back and sides and light on belly , and upper sides of paired fins dark on lower sides and light on upper sides . The other marbled, with small brown spots against a light background on back and sides and belly whitish; very dark unpaired fins; caudal fin with a series of vertical bars (a light bar in the middle flanked by dark ones) . Some specimens may show irregular pattern of small white spots on body .: elongated; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Clarias Buthupogon is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 6.0 - 7.5; dH range: 15 - 25; potamodromous . Tropical; 22°C - 28°C ; 10°N - 11°S Central African Republic and Zambia) (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlarias angolensis macronema | Fowler | 1949 | Synonym |
| Clarias bathupogon | Sauvage | 1879 | Synonym |
| Clarias bathypogon | Sauvage | 1879 | Synonym |
| Clarias bithypogon | Sauvage | 1879 | Synonym |
| Clarias buthipogon | Sauvage | 1879 | Synonym |
| Clarias buthopogon | Sauvage | 1879 | Synonym |
| Clarias lindicus | Boulenger | 1920 | Synonym |
| Clarias megapogon | Sauvage | 1880 | Heterotypic |
| Clarias obscurus | Poll | 1948 | Synonym |
| Clarias zygouron | Nichols & Griscom | 1917 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 421 records indexed .
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