Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Claroteidae (Claroteid catfishes)
Etymology: Chrysichthys: Greek, chrysos = golden + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335); praecox: From the Latin 'praecox', meaning early ripening or precocious, in reference to the small size at which this species matures (Ref. 78725).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
Africa: only known from Lake Mai-Ndombe (middle Congo River basin), Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 78725).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 78725)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
This species is distinguished from other Chrysichthys by having vomerine accessory toothplates forming a smooth arc, narrowly separated in midline and broadening posteriorly in adult males; narrow and sharply pointed supraoccipital process; upper jaw extending beyond lower jaw; strong postcleithral process; maxillary barbel length 2,7-4,8 times in standard length; nasal barbel reaching the orbit; uniformly dark pigmentation; and 14-19 gill rakers on the first gill arch (Ref. 78725).
Lac Mai-Ndombe is a 'blackwater' lake with an acidic pH (4.0-5.5); maximum depth is 10 m; limits increase dramatically during seasonal rains; C. praecox is a small claroteid catfish with marked secondary sexual dimorphism; matures at small size (Ref. 78725).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Hardman, M. and M.L.J. Stiassny, 2008. A sexually dimorphic species of Chrysichthys (Siluriformes: Claroteidae) from Lac Mai-Ndombe, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 19(2):175-184. (Ref. 78725)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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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=0.01047 (0.00456 - 0.02402), b=2.98 (2.80 - 3.16), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).