 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Clarias cavernicola Trewavas, 1936 |
| Common Name(s) | Blinde Hohlenfisch (German, ), Cave Catfish (English, ), Spelonkbaber (Afrikaans, Namibia) |
| Type Locality | Underground lake at Aigamas Cave, north of Otavi, about 19°25'S, 17°18'E, Namibia, southwestern Africa. |
| Type Locality Map |  |
| Pronunciation | klar ee ass |
| Etymology | Clarias: From the Greek chlaros, meaning lively; in reference to the ability of the fish to live for long periods out of water. caverna, cave in Latin and colere, to dwell, in Latin. |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 161mm (6.3") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| Identification | Clarias species are characterized by having an elongated body; a soft rayed dorsal fin extending to, or nearly to, the caudal fin base; a soft rayed anal fin extending from just behind the anus to the caudal fin base; pectoral fins each with a serrated anterior bony spine; head depressed, covered largely by firmly sutured, surface sculptured bony plates forming a protective helmet; four pairs of flagellate barbels (nasals, maxillaries, inner and outer mandibulars); air breathing organs derived from the 2nd and 4th epibranchials within a superbranchial chamber. In common with most cave-dwelling animals, this species is devoid of pigment, in life the skin color is creamish flushed with pink or orange. The eyes vary from weakly developed to non-existant. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Africa: Namibia: Inhabits the crystal clear waters of a subterranean small lake, lying at the bottom of the Aigamas Cave.There are reports of similar fishes from other caves within the same dolomitic limestone region. |
| Temperature | 24.5-27.0°C or 76.1-80.6°F (Show others within this range) |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Feeding | Wild fish consume coprophagus invertebrates, small shrimps and it is thought larger fish cannibalize smaller individuals which is not unusual in the cave environment. |
| Suggested Tankmates | This is a specialized species and the suggestions for the genus in general would be much too boisterous. |
| Breeding | Unknown. |
| Further Information | |
| References | Trewavas [E.] 1936:70, Pl. 2 (figs. 7-9) [Novitates Zoologicae. A Journal of Zoology in Connection with the Tring Museum v. 40. Eleonora Trajano, Maria Elina Bichuette, B.G. Kapoor, Biology of Subterranean Fishes, Science Publishers (2010). Guy G. Teugels, A Systematic revision of the African species of the genus Clarias (Pisces ; Claridae) |
| Registered Keepers | None.  Add this species to your "my cats" page. |
| Breeding Reports | None. |
| More Resources |
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| Hits | 552 hits. |
| Last Update | 2011 Aug 21 03:16 (species record created: 2011 Aug 19 22:46) |
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