Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
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.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Tropical; 8°N - 3°N
Africa: Ofin river and Volta system (Ghana), coastal rivers in Togo, Ouémé river (Benin), and in the Ogun, Oshun, lower Niger, Niger delta and Cross (Nigeria) (Ref. 57129).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 12 - ? cm
Max length : 29.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 31579); max. published weight: 178.00 g (Ref. 31579)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 65 - 82; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 52 - 63; Vertebrae: 53 - 54. Diagnosis: head oval-shaped in dorsal outline (Ref. 248), fairly broad (width 15.9-21.1% SL) and rather long (24.1-27.6% SL)(Ref. 57129, 81644). Snout rounded (Ref. 248). Tooth plates small (Ref. 248). Width of premaxillary tooth plate 22.3-27.5% HL (m=24.9), of vomerine plate 19.9-24.5% HL; interorbital space relatively narrow (40.6-46.1% HL, averaging 42.8% HL) (Ref. 57129, 81644). Barbels relatively short, but longer than head (Ref. 57129). Frontal fontanelle usually short and wide/squat ('sole-shaped')(Ref. 248, 57129). Occipital fontanelle small and oval-shaped; supraorbital and 'dermosphenotic' bones become sutured (Ref. 248). Pectoral spine robust and slightly curved (Ref. 248), with serrations on anterior and posterior margin (Ref. 57129, 81644). Gill rakers long and distantly set; suprabranchial organ well developed; openings of the secondary canals of the lateral line appear as irregular white spots on the body (Ref. 248). 15-24 gill rakers on first gill arch; 52-63 anal fin rays (Ref. 81644).
Coloration: characteristic for its very light colouration; back and sides yellowish brown, belly clear/light grey (Ref. 57129, 81644).
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Found more abundant in forest floodplain ponds, grassland floodplain ponds and marshes than in rivers (Ref. 31579). Maximum reported size 235 mm TL for West Africa (Ref. 57129) and Lower Guinea (Ref. 81644).
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. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00759 (0.00453 - 0.01269), b=2.98 (2.84 - 3.12), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.7 ±0.3 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm=1; K=0.89; mean Fec=9,596).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (19 of 100).
