Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Amphiliidae (Loach catfishes) > Amphiliinae
Etymology: Amphilius: Greek, amphi = on both sides + Greek, leios = fat; chalei: Named for Dr. Francis Chale, for his assistance for many years in the exploration of live and preserved fishes from Tanzania and for his involvement in the collection of this new species.
Eponymy: Dr Francis Markus Mpendakulya Chale (d: 1947) was awarded his BSc (1971) by the University of Dar el Salaam and his MSc (1977) and PhD (1982) by the University of Michigan. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
Africa: found in Lake Malawi, the Ruhuhu drainage and the Little Ruaha River (Rufiji drainage) in Tanzania (Ref. 78218).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 78218)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Moderately slender; dorsal fin situated a long way in front of the ventral fins; adipose fin low and long, longer than in Amphilius jacksonii; caudal peduncle longer than deep (deeper that long in Amphilius uranoscopus; caudal fin deeply indented than is the case in Amphilius uranoscopus; and the caudal-fin lobes rounded posteriorly (Ref. 78218).
Inhabits very clear water and remains at least in part active during the day; can be kept easily in the aquarium and if possible, the temperature should not exceed 24° C (Ref. 78218).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Seegers, L., 2008. The catfishes of Africa: A handbook for identification and maintenance. Aqualog Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, Germany. 604 p. (Ref. 78218)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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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=0.00490 (0.00203 - 0.01181), b=3.15 (2.94 - 3.36), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.0 ±0.3 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming Fec < 10,000).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).