Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical; 3°N - 10°S, 14°E - 30°E
Africa: present throughout the Congo River basin (Ref. 78218). In the Lukuga (Tanganyika outflow) up to the Kisimba-Kilia rapids (Ref. 93587). Reports of this species from Inga and the Luongo River (Zambian Congo) refer to Congoglanis inga and C. sagitta, respectively (Ref. 88958). Reports from the Luachimo River (Ref. 11970) are C. howesi (Ref. 92838).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 14.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 88958)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 9 - 11. Diagnosis: Congoglanis alula differs from C. inga in having a shorter maxillary barbel not reaching to vertical through anterior margin of orbit, vs. extending well past anterior margin of orbit, respectively; a longer pelvic fin, 24–28% of standard length, vs. 19–21%; a shorter postorbital length, 27–31% of head length, vs. 32–35%; a relatively narrow interorbital width, 1.5 times eye diameter, vs. 2 times; and shorter anal-fin rays, posterior rays of adpressed anal fin extend to, rarely slightly beyond, vertical through posterior limit of adipose fin, vs. posterior rays extend well past vertical through posterior limit of adipose fin (Ref. 88958). Congoglanis alula differs from C. sagitta in having a longer pectoral fin, 28–29% of standard length, vs. 23–27%; a longer pelvic fin, 24–28% of standard length, vs. 19–21%; a shorter caudal peduncle, 18–22% of standard length, vs. 21–24%; and deeper caudal peduncle, caudal-peduncle depth 2.6–3.3 times in caudal-peduncle length, vs. 3.1–4.0 times; a relatively narrow interorbital width, 1.5 times eye diameter, vs. 2 times; a more posteriorly placed anal fin, anal-fin origin approximately at tip of adpressed pelvic fin, vs. origin well in advance of tip of adpressed pelvic fin; and fewer vertebrae, 36–39, vs. 39–41 (Ref. 88958).
Typically found in fastest flowing portions of rivers and always associated with large rocks; appears to congregate underneath rocks near where water breaks over the rocks during the day, and will move out onto the tops of rocks at night (Ref. 88958).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., R.P. Vari and P.H. Skelton, 2011. A new genus of African loach catfish (Siluriformes: Amphiliidae) from the Congo River basin, the sister-group to all other genera of the Doumeinae, with the description of two new species. Copeia 2011(4):477-489. (Ref. 88958)
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 = 0.5625 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00389 (0.00180 - 0.00842), b=3.12 (2.94 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
