Cat-eLog Right Mochokidae Right Chiloglanidinae Right Chiloglanis  |  | 

Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Chiloglanis bifurcus  Jubb & Le Roux, 1969
Common Name Incomati Rockcat
Type Locality Montrose farm, Crocodile River, Incomati River system, Nelspruit District, South Africa.
Pronunciation Kee low glan iss
Etymology Chiloglanis: From the Greek cheilos, meaning lip, and glanis, meaning catfish; in reference to the oral morphology. 
Down Species Information
Size 68mm or 2.7" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification The second largest catfish genus in Africa after Synodontis. They are characterized by jaws and lips modified into a sucker or oral disc used for adhering to and feeding upon objects in fast-flowing waters. Generally reasonably small at 100 mm SL or less. species with forked caudal fins can show sexual dimorphism and is usually species-specific. Other characteristics in this hard-to-ID genus are the size of the adipose fin, the position of the adipose fin relative to pelvic and ventral fins, size of barbles, eyes and dorsal fin. Only a handful of species are identified on colouration. They can be distinguished from other African suckermouth catfish (of the genera Euchilichthys and Atopochilus) by their circular suckermouth disc. This is more elliptical in the other two genera.

In its natural range C. bifurcus is found alongside C. pretoriae. C. bifurcus is much less commonly encountered and is most readily identified by its clearly bifurcated caudal fin. The upper and lower caudal fin lobes are clearly distinct whereas in C. pretoriae the lobes are nearly completely fused together.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution Africa: endemic to the Crocodile-Incomati system.
IUCN Red List Category Critically Endangered, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2016.
Down Husbandry Information
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference Annals of the Cape Provincial Museums (Natural History) v. 8 (pt 2), pp 17, Figs. 9-9A.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2015 Sep 11 05:49 (species record created: 2015 Feb 27 01:27)