Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Siluriformes (Catfish) >
Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes)
Etymology: Clarias: Greek, chlaros = lively, in reference to the ability of the fish to live for a long time out of water. More on author: Boulenger.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical, preferred ?; 3°N - 9°S
Africa: Lakes Victoria, Kyoga, Edward, Rukwa and Tanganyika (Ref. 248). Also in Malagarasi River (Ref. 27292) and Rusizi River (Ref. 98755).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 23.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27292)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 0;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 65-79;
Anal
soft rays: 57 - 64;
Vertebrae: 52 - 55. Pectoral fin spine serrated on both inner and outer sides (Ref. 34290). Head oval-shaped in dorsal outline; snout short and slightly rounded; eyes more dorsally located. Frontal fontanelle long and narrow (`knife-shaped'); occipital fontanelle long and oval-shaped. Supraorbital and `dermospenoticum' joined. Tooth plates relatively small. gill rakers long, slender and distantly set. Suprabranchial organ well developed. Openings of the secondary sensory canals regularly arranged on flanks.
Occurs in rivers, streams, swamps and lakes. Occurs along muddy shores and in papyrus swamps in Lake Victoria; also in ponds of rice schemes (Ref. 36900), side-arms of larger waters (Ref. 78218) and in mountainous streams (Ref. 27292). Mainly insectivorous (Ref. 248), a wide variety of insect larvae and crustaceans (Ref. 78218). Also small fish are taken (Ref. 27292). Might undertake mass migrations up rivers and streams, maybe to spawn (Ref. 27292).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Teugels, G.G., 1986. A systematic revision of the African species of the genus Clarias (Pisces; Clariidae). Ann. Mus. R. Afr. Centr., Sci. Zool., 247:199 p. (Ref. 248)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries:
More information
Common namesSynonymsMetabolismPredatorsEcotoxicologyReproductionMaturitySpawningFecundityEggsEgg development
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources