Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Schilbeidae (Schilbid catfishes)
Etymology: Irvineia: It is the name of a seaweed; orientalis: From the Latin "orientalis" (from the East) referring to the East African distribution of this species (Ref. 43912).
Eponymy: Dr Frederick Robert Irvine (1898–1962) was a botanist and science teacher who made a collection of fishes near Accra, Gold Coast (Ghana). [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Trewavas.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical; 10°N - 0°N
Africa: rivers Juba and Uebi Shebeli in Somalia and Ethiopia (Ref. 43912).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 50.2 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 43912)
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6. Diagnosis: adipose fin always present; posterior nostrils always closer to each other than anterior ones; 7-9 branched pelvic fin rays; nasal barbel at least reaching to midway between eye and opercle; posterior side (inner side) of pectoral spine feebly serrated; swim-bladder with posterior caecum which extends caudally on one side of body (dextrally or sinistrally) to posterior end of anal fin (Ref. 43912).
Feeds at least in part on insects (Ref. 43912). Oviparous, eggs are unguarded (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairing (Ref. 205).
De Vos, L., 1995. A systematic revision of the African Schilbeidae (Teleostei, Siluriformes). With an annotated bibliography. Ann. Mus. R. Afr. Centr., Sci. Zool., 271:1-450. (Ref. 43912)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.7500 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00631 (0.00205 - 0.01941), b=3.16 (2.91 - 3.41), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (45 of 100).