Cat-eLog Right Amphiliidae Right Amphiliinae Right Amphilius  |  | 

Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Amphilius natalensis  Boulenger, 1917
Common Name
Type Locality Krantz Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Pronunciation ahm FILL ee us
Etymology Amphilius: Not clear; probably from the Greek amphi, meaning both sides and leios, meaning smooth. 
Down Species Information
Size 125mm or 4.9" 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).
Down Habitat Information
Distribution Africa: Ruo River, Zambezi system in Malawi south to Umkomaas River in Natal, South Africa. Also known from the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe (lower Zambezi).
African Waters, Zambesi, Shire, Ruo (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Umkomaas (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Zambesi, Lower Zambesi (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2018.
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding In the wild it is active at night, feeding on benthic stream invertebrates such as mayfly and midge larvae. User data.
Furniture Occurs among cobbles and rocks in swiftly flowing water.
Breeding Unknown.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference Annals of the Durban Museum v. 1 (pt 4) (art. 20), pp 432.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2022 Jan 01 03:21 (species record created: 2011 Jan 30 09:33)