PlanetCatfish.com - Parauchenoglanis punctatus (Auchenoglanididae) Cat-eLog

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Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Parauchenoglanis punctatus** (Boulenger, 1902)
Common Name	Spotted Giraffe Catfish
Type Locality	Lindi River, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Synonym(s)	Auchenoglanis punctatus
Etymology	Parauchenoglanis: The Greek prefix para means near; in reference to the resemblance to Auchenoglanis.
Species Information
Size	410mm or 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.
General Remarks	See also 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.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Africa: Congo River system. African Waters, Congo (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 2009.
Temperature	24.0-28.0°C or 75.2-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	In nature, preys on insect larvae, crustaceans, and small fishes - not a fussy eater in the aquarium and will eat most foods. User data.
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1902, v. 1 (pt 1) (art. 4), pp 267, Pl. 29 (figs. 1-1a).
Registered Keepers	There are 4 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 8 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.243.47.1389
Last Update	2019 Oct 06 04:58 (species record created: 2004 Nov 13 00:00)