Clarias Gabonensis

📖 Overview

Facultative air-breathing ; Found in lakes, rivers and floodplains (during breeding season); stomach contents consisted of sand, plants, larvae of Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera and Chironomidae, remains of insects and fish scales .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 72 - 88; Anal soft rays: 56 - 71; Vertebrae: 55 - 71. Diagnosis: head length 24.4-27.7% SL . Head rather pointed in dorsal outline; snout slightly rounded; eyes located more dorsally . Interorbital distance 41.1-45.4% HL . Tooth plates relatively small (Ref 248), width of premaxillary tooth plate 21.3-28.2% HL, and of vomerine tooth plate 18.6-25.9% HL . Nasal barbel 78.3-110% HL; outer mandibular barbel 58.0-142% HL . Frontal fontanelle short and squat (`sole-shaped'); occipital fontanelle small and oval-shaped; `dermosphenotic' and supraorbital bones become sutured in larger specimens (above 65 mm SL) . Pectoral spine robust, slightly curved and strongly serrated on outside and inside . Number of gill rakers varies with standard length , 16-28 on first gill arch . Suprabranchial organ well developed, nearly filling the cavity . Openings of the lateral branches of the lateral line irregularly placed . 56-71 anal fin rays . Large part of bony surface of cleithrum exposed through the skin; posterior border of visible part sometimes forms almost straight line; cleithrum length 21.5-26.0% HL; dorsal fin length 65.7-75.0% SL; distance from dorsal to caudal fin 0.0-2.5% SL . Colouration: brownish yellow in life; pigmentation may be uniform but is more often marbled, with many, small yellowish spots . Distal quarter of caudal fin is clearer than anterior portion . Some specimens may show irregular pattern of small white spots on body . : elongated; Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Clarias Gabonensis is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Clarias Gabonensis is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Juvenile specimens were found in isolated pools in the forest which might indicate that reproduction takes place during the rainy season.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 6.0 - 7.5; dH range: ? - 25. Tropical; 22°C - 28°C ; 5°N - 8°S

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 199 records indexed .

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