PlanetCatfish.com - Chrysichthys auratus (Claroteidae) Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Chrysichthys auratus** (Geoffroy St. Hilaire, 1809)
Common Name	Spiny Catfish
Type Locality	Nile River
Synonym(s)	Amarginops persimilis, Bagrus auratus, Bagrus capito, Chrysichthys auratus auratus, Chrysichthys auratus longifilis, Chrysichthys auratus tilhoi, Chrysichthys filamentosus, Chrysichthys kingsleyae, Chrysichthys longifelis, Chrysichthys longifilis, Chrysichthys macrops, Chrysichthys persimilis, Chysichthys auratus, Gephyroglanis tilhoi, Pimelodus auratus, Porcus auratus
Pronunciation	cry sick thiss
Etymology	Chrysichthys: From the Greek chrysos, meaning golden and ichthys, meaning fish; in reference to the golden-yellow color (of the type species, C. auratus).
Species Information
Size	350mm or 13.8" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Habitat Information
Distribution	West Africa: From Mauritania to Ghana, except in coastal basins from Gambia to Liberia where it is replaced by C. maurus. Also reported from Nigeria and Cameroon. Questionably reported from Nile River and Lake Turkana (?). African Waters, Nile (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Eastern Rift Valley Lakes, Turkana (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2019.
Temperature	26.0-31.0°C or 78.8-87.8°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Occurs in lakes.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Feeds on mollusks and small crustaceans (Branchiopods, Copepods, Ostracoda) which it digs from the substrate. It also feeds on fish and insects. User data.
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Poissons du Nil v. 1 (part 1), pp [322], Pl. 14 (figs. 3-4).
Registered Keepers	There are 2 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 3 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

	Search for C. auratus
	Look up C. auratus on AquaticRepublic.com
	Look up C. auratus on Fishbase
	Look up C. auratus on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up C. auratus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.2.153.1355
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:38 (species record created: 2004 Oct 05 00:00)