Parauchenoglanis punctatus • Claroteidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Parauchenoglanis punctatus** (Boulenger, 1902)
Common Name(s)	Spotted Giraffe Catfish
Type Locality	Lindi R., Zaire.
Synonym(s)	Auchenoglanis punctatus
Etymology	Parauchenoglanis: The Greek prefix para means near; in reference to the resemblance to Auchenoglanis.
Species Information
Size	410mm (16.1") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	In all Parauchenoglanis the small eyes are not covered by a transparent skin (having a free border). The first dorsal spine is small, the second large and strong followed by seven branched fin rays (rarely eight). Pectoral fin with one spine and 7-8 branched rays, pelvic fin with six rays (of which five are branched), anal fin with 6-10 branched rays. Edge of caudal is straight or rounded. This species' barbels are extremely long, maxillary barbel reaching at least to pectoral spine base, external mandibular barbel always reaching beyond spine tip. Adipose fin solid and higher than in other species (except for some adults of P. altipinnis). Head dark brown, typically darker than flanks, sometimes with indistinct, large, dark marks. Flanks brown, occasionally with a purple hue, and 6-10 (rarely 11) vertical rows of very dark to black separate dots, each smaller than the eye. In younger specimens dark vertical bands may be barely apparent. Belly pale brown to whitish.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Africa: Congo River system. African Waters, Congo (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
Temperature	24.0-28.0°C or 75.2-82.4°F (Show others within this range)
Husbandry Information
Breeding	Unreported.
Further Information
References	Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. v. 1 (pt 2) 267 Pl. 29 (figs. 1-1a) Fresh and Brackish Water Fishes of Lower Guinea, West Central Africa, Stiassny, Teugels, Hopkins, pg.603 Geerinckx T., Adriaens D., Teugels G.G. & Verraes W., 2004. A systematic revision of the African catfish genus Parauchenoglanis Boulenger, 1911 (Siluriformes: Claroteidae). Journal of Natural History, 38 (6): 775-803. Geerinckx T., Risch L., Vreven E., Adriaens D. & Teugels G.G., 2007. Claroteidae. In Poissons d’eaux douces et saumâtres de Basse Guinée, ouest de l’Afrique Centrale – The fresh and brackish water fishes of Lower Guinea, West Central Africa (Stiassny M.L.J., Teugels G.G. & Hopkins C.D., eds). RMCA (Tervuren) & IRD (Paris), p. 586-629.
Registered Keepers	(1) yellowcat (k: 2), who also notes: "Acquired @ 2.5", 14 months later they are 13" TL and possibly still growing.. 2 years later, the male is 13"TL and the female is at almost 15"TL. The male is very shy and skittish, the female very outgoing and friendly, likes to be hand fed. So shy as juveniles, didn't even see 'em for the first 6 months...", (2) sidguppy. 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.
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Last Update	2009 Sep 26 12:07 (species record created: 2004 Nov 13 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Parauchenoglanis punctatus (Boulenger, 1902)

Common Name(s)

Spotted Giraffe Catfish

Type Locality

Lindi R., Zaire.

Synonym(s)

Auchenoglanis punctatus

Etymology

Parauchenoglanis: The Greek prefix para means near; in reference to the resemblance to Auchenoglanis.

Species Information

Size

410mm (16.1") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

In all Parauchenoglanis the small eyes are not covered by a transparent skin (having a free border). The first dorsal spine is small, the second large and strong followed by seven branched fin rays (rarely eight). Pectoral fin with one spine and 7-8 branched rays, pelvic fin with six rays (of which five are branched), anal fin with 6-10 branched rays. Edge of caudal is straight or rounded.

This species' barbels are extremely long, maxillary barbel reaching at least to pectoral spine base, external mandibular barbel always reaching beyond spine tip. Adipose fin solid and higher than in other species (except for some adults of P. altipinnis). Head dark brown, typically darker than flanks, sometimes with indistinct, large, dark marks. Flanks brown, occasionally with a purple hue, and 6-10 (rarely 11) vertical rows of very dark to black separate dots, each smaller than the eye. In younger specimens dark vertical bands may be barely apparent. Belly pale brown to whitish.

Habitat Information

Distribution

Africa: Congo River system.
African Waters, Congo (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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

Temperature

24.0-28.0°C or 75.2-82.4°F (Show others within this range)

Husbandry Information

Breeding

Unreported.

Further Information

References

Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. v. 1 (pt 2) 267 Pl. 29 (figs. 1-1a)
Fresh and Brackish Water Fishes of Lower Guinea, West Central Africa, Stiassny, Teugels, Hopkins, pg.603
Geerinckx T., Adriaens D., Teugels G.G. & Verraes W., 2004. A systematic revision of the African catfish genus Parauchenoglanis Boulenger, 1911 (Siluriformes: Claroteidae). Journal of Natural History, 38 (6): 775-803.
Geerinckx T., Risch L., Vreven E., Adriaens D. & Teugels G.G., 2007. Claroteidae. In Poissons d’eaux douces et saumâtres de Basse Guinée, ouest de l’Afrique Centrale – The fresh and brackish water fishes of Lower Guinea, West Central Africa (Stiassny M.L.J., Teugels G.G. & Hopkins C.D., eds). RMCA (Tervuren) & IRD (Paris), p. 586-629.

Registered Keepers

(1) yellowcat (k: 2), who also notes: "Acquired @ 2.5", 14 months later they are 13" TL and possibly still growing.. 2 years later, the male is 13"TL and the female is at almost 15"TL. The male is very shy and skittish, the female very outgoing and friendly, likes to be hand fed. So shy as juveniles, didn't even see 'em for the first 6 months...", (2) sidguppy.

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.