| Family: |
Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes) |
| Max. size: |
73 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 4,000.0 g |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; brackish, potamodromous |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Quanza, Cunene, Okavango, Chobe, Lake Ngami, upper Zambezi (above Victoria Falls), Kafue, Lake Malawi, upper Lualaba, Luapula, Lakes Moero and Bangweulu, Pungwe, Buzi, Save, Limpopo, Incomati, lower Pongolo and lower Sabi/Lundi system (Ref. 248). Also reported from the lower Shire (Ref. 7248, 52193) |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 56-62; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 50-58; Vertebrae: 56-60. Diagnosis: Characterized by a relatively long vomerine tooth plate (5.9-14.4% of head length) and by a relatively short adipose fin (5.9-12.5% of standard length), the length of which is a specific character of Clarias ngamensis; head oval to rectangular in dorsal outline; frontal fontanelle long and narrow (`knife-shaped'); occipital fontanelle small and oval-shaped; pectoral spine robust and slightly curved; the suprabranchial organ consists of well developed arborescent structures (Ref. 248). It is distinguished from Clarias gariepinus by having a short adipose fin behind the rayed dorsal and an ovoid vomerine toothplate with granular or blunt teeth (Ref. 52193). Description: Dorsal fin with 56-62 rays; anal fin with 50-58 rays; pectoral spines barbed along outer edge only (Ref. 52193). Gill rakers short and widely spaced, 18-32 on first gill arch; accessory suprabranchial airbreathing organ well developed (Ref. 52193).Colouration: Colour variable, grey or dark brown, often marbled, with cream or whitish underside to head and abdomen (Ref. 52193). |
| Biology: |
The species seems to be nowhere especially abundant but is fairly common in some areas such as weed beds, permanent swamps, quieter waters and muddy bottoms (Ref. 248, 5595). Prefers vegetated habitats. Feeding habits overlap considerably with the sharptooth catfish. Important foods are mollusks, terrestrial and aquatic insects, insect larvae, shrimps, grain, crabs and fish (Ref. 4967, 78218). Feeds on snails (Ref. 5595). Hard-shelled foods such as mussels are crushed before they are swallowed. Breeds during the summer rainy season. May live for 5-6 years (Ref. 7248). Also caught with drawnets (Ref. 4967). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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