Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Schilbeidae (Schilbid catfishes)
Etymology: grenfelli: Named for the collector of the type specimen, Mr. G. Grenfel, Protestant missionary (Ref. 43912).
Eponymy: George Grenfell (1849–1906) was an explorer and a Baptist missionary in Cameroon (1875–1877) and the Congo Free State (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (1877–1906). [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical; 23°C - 26°C (Ref. 12468); 5°N - 0°N
Africa: lower, middle and upper Congo River basin, including Pool Malebo (= Stanley Pool); Ogooué and Nyanga basins in Gabon; Ntem-Campo, Nyong and Lokoundje basins in Cameroon (Ref. 43912). Also in the Mitemboni River (Gabon-Equatorial Guinea border) and lower Nkomi River basin (Gabon)(Ref. 81643). Reports from the Lali River (upper Kouilou basin) in Republic of Congo or from the Chad basin are based on misidentified specimens; presence in the Ruzisi unlikely, based on a single specimen that is probably mislabelled (Ref. 43912).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 50.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 81643)
Dorsal spines (total): 1. Diagnosis: adipose fin present (Ref. 43912, 81643) and fully developed (Ref. 81643). Anterior nostrils closer to each other than the posterior pair; nasal barbel not reaching beyond the posterior border of the eye; inner side of pectoral spine weakly serrated; snout reaching beyond lower jaw; head rounded (Ref. 43912, 81643).
Omnivorous or predominantly carnivorous, feeding on fruits, leaves, grains, insect larvae and nymphs, and small fish; very voracious; juveniles found in floodplains during the rainy season, often hidden under floating trunks of trees which seems a favorite place for juvenile Schilbe and numerous other fish larvae; active swimmer, especially during the night, probably resting near the bottom during daytime (Ref. 43912). Oviparous, eggs are unguarded (Ref. 205). Important species in fishery terms (Ref. 78218). Flesh of this fish very tasty, its price rather elevated (Ref. 43912).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairing (Ref. 205).
De Vos, L., 1995. A systematic revision of the African Schilbeidae (Teleostei, Siluriformes). With an annotated bibliography. Ann. Mus. R. Afr. Centr., Sci. Zool., 271:1-450. (Ref. 43912)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
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=0.00813 (0.00359 - 0.01840), b=3.06 (2.86 - 3.26), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Assuming fec > 10,000).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (45 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 90.7 [38.7, 207.3] mg/100g; Iron = 1.26 [0.60, 2.34] mg/100g; Protein = 16.8 [15.0, 18.6] %; Omega3 = 0.48 [0.18, 1.26] g/100g; Selenium = 82.4 [36.0, 180.7] μg/100g; VitaminA = 36.8 [13.7, 95.6] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.47 [0.97, 2.10] mg/100g (wet weight);
