Amphilius uranoscopus • Amphiliidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Amphilius uranoscopus** (Pfeffer, 1889)
Common Name(s)	Gewone Bergbaber, Stargazer Mountain Catfish
Type Locality	Ushonda and Monda, upper ranges of Wami R., Tanzania.
Synonym(s)	Amphilius grandis
Pronunciation	ahm FILL ee us
Etymology	Amphilius: Not clear; probably from the Greek amphi, meaning both sides and leios, meaning smooth.
Species Information
Size	160mm (6.3") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Most amphiliid species are found in fast-flowing water of clear, rocky streams at high elevations or rapids of large lowland rivers (Berra 2001; Roberts 2003).basins (Seegers et al. 2003). Species of Amphilius are adapted for fast flow and rocky habitats (Skelton 1986). Morphological adaptations for these habitats include expanded pectoral and pelvic fins with a thickened first ray, depressed body, dorsally directed eyes and reduced swim bladder (Skelton 1986; Walsh et al. 2000). The large pelvic fins form, in conjunction with the body, a feeble sucking disc that enables the fish to cling to rocks (Jackson 1961b).
Habitat Information
Distribution	Africa: Widespread in central and east Africa. Known from the Tana River, Kenya to Pongolo River, Natal. Also known from the Okavango, Zambezi systems, and east coast rivers south to the Mkuze system in northern Natal. African Waters, Zambesi, Upper Zambesi (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Okavango (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Maputo, Pongolo (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Mkuze (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Tana (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
Temperature	20.0-25.0°C or 68-77°F (Show others within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Feeds mainly on insects and small organisms from the substrate.
Furniture	Rocky substrate is the natural habitat. Flowing water.
Breeding	Unreported.
Further Information
References	Jahrb. Wiss. Anst. Hamburg v. 6 (art. 4) 16.
Registered Keepers	None.
Breeding Reports	None.
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Last Update	2010 Dec 21 19:21 (species record created: 2005 Jun 19 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Amphilius uranoscopus (Pfeffer, 1889)

Common Name(s)

Gewone Bergbaber, Stargazer Mountain Catfish

Type Locality

Ushonda and Monda, upper ranges of Wami R., Tanzania.

Synonym(s)

Amphilius grandis

Pronunciation

ahm FILL ee us

Etymology

Amphilius: Not clear; probably from the Greek amphi, meaning both sides and leios, meaning smooth.

Species Information

Size

160mm (6.3") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

Most amphiliid species are found in fast-flowing water of clear, rocky streams at high elevations or rapids of large lowland rivers (Berra 2001; Roberts 2003).basins (Seegers et al. 2003). Species of Amphilius are adapted for fast flow and rocky habitats (Skelton 1986). Morphological adaptations for these habitats include expanded pectoral and pelvic fins with a thickened first ray, depressed body, dorsally directed eyes and reduced swim bladder (Skelton 1986; Walsh et al. 2000). The large pelvic fins form, in conjunction with the body, a feeble sucking disc that enables the fish to cling to rocks (Jackson 1961b).

Habitat Information

Distribution

Africa: Widespread in central and east Africa. Known from the Tana River, Kenya to Pongolo River, Natal. Also known from the Okavango, Zambezi systems, and east coast rivers south to the Mkuze system in northern Natal.
African Waters, Zambesi, Upper Zambesi (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Okavango (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Maputo, Pongolo (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Mkuze (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Tana (click on these areas to find other species found there)