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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.
Eponymy: Charles A Alluaud (1861–1949) was a French entomologist, botanist and naturalist who came from a wealthy family, living in a chateau where the painter Corot was a frequent visitor. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical; 3°N - 9°S
Africa: Lakes Victoria, Kyoga, Edward, Rukwa and Tanganyika (Ref. 248). Also in Malagarasi River (Ref. 27292) and Rusizi River (Ref. 98755).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 23.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27292)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 65 - 79; Anal soft rays: 57 - 64; Vertebrae: 52 - 55. Pectoral fin spine serrated on both inner and outer sides (Ref. 34290). Head oval-shaped in dorsal outline; snout short and slightly rounded; eyes more dorsally located. Frontal fontanelle long and narrow (`knife-shaped'); occipital fontanelle long and oval-shaped. Supraorbital and `dermospenoticum' joined. Tooth plates relatively small. gill rakers long, slender and distantly set. Suprabranchial organ well developed. Openings of the secondary sensory canals regularly arranged on flanks.
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Occurs in rivers, streams, swamps and lakes. Occurs along muddy shores and in papyrus swamps in Lake Victoria; also in ponds of rice schemes (Ref. 36900), side-arms of larger waters (Ref. 78218) and in mountainous streams (Ref. 27292). Mainly insectivorous (Ref. 248), a wide variety of insect larvae and crustaceans (Ref. 78218). Also small fish are taken (Ref. 27292). Might undertake mass migrations up rivers and streams, maybe to spawn (Ref. 27292).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
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
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=0.00794 (0.00357 - 0.01766), b=2.96 (2.78 - 3.14), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.40 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (13 of 100).
![Image of Clarias alluaudi (Alluaud\](/images/thumbnails/jpg/tn_Clall_u0.jpg "Image of Clarias alluaudi (Alluaud\")
