Sampa
📖 Overview
Facultative air-breathing ; An uncommon species which inhabits large rivers . Largest freshwater species in southern Africa; occurs in large deep rivers within the mainstream or in deep pools and lakes or backwaters . Most active at night, feeding on any available food, including invertebrates and insects when small, fish and other small vertebrates when large; scavenges off large carcasses and offal from riverside villages; live for 12 or more years . Maximum reported size for West Africa and Lower Guinea: 610 mm TL .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26 - 35; Anal soft rays: 42 - 52; Vertebrae: 55 - 61. Diagnosis: length of rayed dorsal fin 27-36% standard length; 26-35 dorsal-fin rays . Length of adipose fin 24-34% standard length , about equal to the length of the rayed dorsal fin . Width of vomerine tooth plate 25.0-32.2%, and width of premaxillary tooth plate 29.5-36.9% head length . Pectoral spine with strong, downward-pointed serrations on the anterior side . Length of pectoral fin 12.7-18.0% SL (mean 16) . Posterior part of adipose fin blackish . Caudal fin with a whitish cross-bar . Head long, broad and somewhat rectangular in dorsal outline , its length 28.4-35.9% SL . Snout broadly rounded; eyes superolateral in position; frontal fontanelle long and narrow; occipital fontanelle oval-shaped; tooth plates wide; suprabranchial organ well developed; caudal fin barred; openings of secondary canals hardly visible but display a regular pattern . : elongated; Cross section: circular.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Sampa is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous ; depth range 10 - ? m . Tropical; 22°C - 23°C ; 25°N - 22°S, 16°W - 40°E West Africa known from the Gambia, Upper Senegal, Niger, Benue, Lake Chad, Volta, and coastal basins from Guinea to Nigeria, including the delta of Niger and the Cross river (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarias loangwensis | Worthington | 1933 | Synonym |
| Heterobranchus laticeps | Peters | 1852 | Synonym |
| Heterobranchus longifinis | Valenciennes | 1840 | Synonym |
| Heterobranchus platycephalus | Nichols & LaMonte | 1934 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 193 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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