| Family: |
Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes) |
| Max. size: |
36 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater |
| Distribution: |
Africa: endemic to Lake Barombi-Mbo in Cameroon (Ref. 81644). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 62-77; Anal soft rays: 52-57. Diagnosis: long and narrow, "knife-shaped" frontal fontanel (Ref. 248, 81644), 2.5-3.0 times as long as wide (Ref. 81644). Tooth plates remarkably broad; median vomerine tooth plate length strikingly shorter than premaxillary length (Ref. 248). Vomerine tooth band very short, length 2.0-5.0% HL (mean 3.3), clearly shorter than premaxillary tooth band (Ref. 81644). Head rectangular in dorsal outline (Ref. 248), relatively large (HL 25.3-27.6% SL, mean 26.4) and wide (width 18.6-20.9% SL, mean 19.8)(Ref. 81644). Supraorbital and "dermosphenotic" never sutured; reduced suprabranchial organ (Ref. 248). Pectoral spine serrate only along anterior margin; flank neuromasts arranged in a regular pattern; postorbital bones not in contact; eyes laterally positioned, interorbital width 44.5-49.0% HL, mean 47.3; 14-16 rakers on 1st gill arch (Ref. 81644).
Coloration: preserved specimens dark reddish brown on back and flanks; ventrum and lower parts of paired fins pale (Ref. 81644). |
| Biology: |
Lacustrine species living in deeper as well as in shallow waters (Ref. 248, 78218). Larger specimens feed mainly on fish, especially Cichlidae; small specimens feed on insect larvae, Chironomids-Odonata (Ref. 248, 78218). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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