Chiloglanis polypogon • Mochokidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Chiloglanis polypogon** Roberts, 1989
Common Name(s)	African suckermouth catfish
Type Locality	High gradient stream along road from Mamfe to Bamenda, 88-94 km southwest of Bamenda, Cross basin, Cameroon, w. Africa.
Pronunciation	Kee low glan iss - paw lee poe gone
Etymology	Chiloglanis: From the Greek cheilos, meaning lip, and glanis, meaning catfish; in reference to the oral morphology. The name polypogon (noun in apposition, from the Greek "poly," multiple, and "pogon," beard)refers to the numerous mental barbels.
Species Information
Size	55mm (2.2") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Second largest catfish genus next to Synodontis in Africa. 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 fairly small at 100 mm SL or less. Often caudal shape can show sexual dimorphism and is usually species specific. Can be distinguished from South American suckermouth catfishes by lack of body armour plates. Can be distinguised from other African suckermouth catfish (of the genera Euchilichthys and Atopochilus) by its circular suckermouth disc. This is more eliptical in the other two genera.
Sexing	Males with an elongate genital papilla. Some other species of Chiloglanis can be easily sexed in the males having enlarged anal and caudal fins of different shapes from the females.
Habitat Information
Distribution	West Central Africa: Cross River basin in Cameroon. African Waters, Cross (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	6.4 - 7.0
Temperature	22.0-26.0°C or 71.6-78.8°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	A good current is strongly recommended.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Will eat a wide variety of prepared and frozen foods. Supplement with algae wafers.
Furniture	Provide plenty of rocks for hiding. Tank does not need to be well-planted.
Compatibility	Peaceful both with conspecifics and other fish, and therefore, suitable for the community tank.
Suggested Tankmates	Good with many small- to mid-sized community fish. Ideal tankmates include fast-water Synodontis (such as S. brichardi and S. soloni), fast-water African characins and cyprinids like Nannocharax and Garra.
Breeding	Not known in aquarium, although other species have been successfully bred in natural enclosures.
Further Information
References	Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (Ser. 4)v. 46 (no. 6) - pp168 - Figs. 1b, 2b, 3c-d, 6a-b, 8
Registered Keepers	(1) Silurus, (2) malawiman1 (p: 2). Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.
Breeding Reports	None.
Articles	- CotM 2004 April
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Last Update	2010 Nov 22 15:59 (species record created: 2003 Aug 14 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Chiloglanis polypogon Roberts, 1989

Common Name(s)

African suckermouth catfish

Type Locality

High gradient stream along road from Mamfe to Bamenda, 88-94 km southwest of Bamenda, Cross basin, Cameroon, w. Africa.

Pronunciation

Kee low glan iss - paw lee poe gone

Etymology

Chiloglanis: From the Greek cheilos, meaning lip, and glanis, meaning catfish; in reference to the oral morphology. The name polypogon (noun in apposition, from the Greek "poly," multiple, and "pogon," beard)refers to the numerous mental barbels.

Species Information

Size

55mm (2.2") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

Second largest catfish genus next to Synodontis in Africa. 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 fairly small at 100 mm SL or less. Often caudal shape can show sexual dimorphism and is usually species specific.

Can be distinguished from South American suckermouth catfishes by lack of body armour plates. Can be distinguised from other African suckermouth catfish (of the genera Euchilichthys and Atopochilus) by its circular suckermouth disc. This is more eliptical in the other two genera.

Sexing

Males with an elongate genital papilla. Some other species of Chiloglanis can be easily sexed in the males having enlarged anal and caudal fins of different shapes from the females.

Habitat Information

Distribution

West Central Africa: Cross River basin in Cameroon.
African Waters, Cross (click on these areas to find other species found there)

(Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)

6.4 - 7.0

Temperature

22.0-26.0°C or 71.6-78.8°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

A good current is strongly recommended.

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Will eat a wide variety of prepared and frozen foods. Supplement with algae wafers.

Furniture

Provide plenty of rocks for hiding. Tank does not need to be well-planted.

Compatibility

Peaceful both with conspecifics and other fish, and therefore, suitable for the community tank.

Suggested Tankmates

Good with many small- to mid-sized community fish. Ideal tankmates include fast-water Synodontis (such as S. brichardi and S. soloni), fast-water African characins and cyprinids like Nannocharax and Garra.

Breeding

Not known in aquarium, although other species have been successfully bred in natural enclosures.

Further Information

References

Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (Ser. 4)v. 46 (no. 6) - pp168 - Figs. 1b, 2b, 3c-d, 6a-b, 8

Registered Keepers

(1) Silurus, (2) malawiman1 (p: 2).

Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.

Breeding Reports

None.

Articles