Clarias stappersii
Boulenger, 1915
Blotched catfish

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Classification / Names

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
More on author: Boulenger.

Environment / milieu / depth range / climate zone / distribution range

Freshwater; demersal; tropical.

Distribution

Africa: Luapula-Moero system (upper Congo River basin), upper Kasai drainage (middle Congo River basin), Kafue River, upper Zambezi system, Cunene River and Okavango (Ref. 248).

Size / Weight / Age

Max length: 41.0 cm SL male/unsexed (Ref. 7248).

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 60 - 80; Anal soft rays: 56 - 63; Vertebrae: 58 - 61. Characterized by its lateral line which appears as a thick white band; barbels extremely short. Head long, broad and flattened. Frontal fontanelle long and extremely narrow. Occipital fontanelle rather small. The `dermosphenotic' and supraorbital bones are separated. Tooth plate extremely broad. Pectoral spine straight and robust. Suprabranchial organ well developed but not completely filling the chamber.

Biology

Occurs in well-vegetated sluggish river channels and floodplain lagoons. Breeds during the summer rainy season (Ref. 7248). Eats invertebrates and, when older, other fishes (Ref. 7248, 78218).

Main reference

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. 125652)

  Least Concern (LC); date assessed: May 22 2018

CITES (Ref. 131153)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless

More information
Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD50 = 0.5 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00813 (0.00440 - 0.01502), b=2.97 (2.82 - 3.12), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 4.5 ±0.6 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).

Fishing vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Moderate vulnerability (40 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Nutrients (Ref. 124155): Calcium = 0 [0, 0] mg/100g; Iron = 0 [0, 0] mg/100g; Protein = 0 [0, 0] %; Omega3 = 0 [0, 0] g/100g; Selenium = 0 [0, 0] μg/100g; VitaminA = 0 [0, 0] μg/100g; Zinc = 0 [0, 0] mg/100g (wet weight);