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Chiloglanis pretoriae Van Der Horst, 1931 Shortspine suckermouth |
| Family: | Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes), subfamily: Chiloglanidinae | |||
| Max. size: | 6.5 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | benthopelagic; freshwater | |||
| Distribution: | Africa: Limpopo, Incomati river systems and from the middle and lower Zambezi, Pungwe and Buzi systems (Ref. 7248, 52193). | |||
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-6; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 10-13. Description: Somewhat variable species (Ref. 52193). Head depressed; eyes relatively small; mouth large, with broad premaxillary toothpads, about 12 mandibular teeth in a straight band (Ref. 52193). Dorsal fin with 1 spine and 5-6 soft rays; anal fin with 3 unbranched and 7-10 branched rays; dorsal fin small, dorsal spine short, less than 50% fin length; caudal fin emarginate in both sexes (Ref. 52193). Colouration: Dark brown with small lighter patches on back and distinctive series of vertical linear spots along body; caudal fin with broad splayed black band over either lobe (Ref. 52193). |
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| Biology: | Found in shallow rocky reaches, riffles and rapids of permanent rivers; has a wider altitudinal range than most species, common where it occurs (Ref. 52193). It feeds on aquatic insects such as mayfly nymphs and caddis fly and blackfly larvae (Ref. 52193). Breeds during summer, laying eggs between rocks and in gravel (Ref. 52193). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Is a useful indicator species in river conservation studies (Ref. 7248). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 July 2017 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||