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Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Parailia pellucida  (Boulenger, 1901)
Common Names African Glass Catfish
Glas-smørmalle (Denmark), Glass Catfish
Type Locality White Nile River at Omdurman, Sudan.
Synonym(s) Physailia pellucida
Pronunciation Pah RAIL ee ah - pell yew sid ah
Etymology The generic name comes from the Latin prefix par-, meaning equal and Ailia, a genus of schilbeid catfishes, in reference to the similarity between this genus and Ailia. From Latin pellucidus, from pellucere, to shine through: per-, through, + lucere, to shine.
Down Species Information
Size 150mm or 5.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification All species of this genus have no dorsal fin and are small being no larger than 150 mm SL.

Specimens seen in the trade are usually much smaller than the given maximum length. Whereas the common glass cat (Kryptopterus minor) has a translucent translucent spinal chord, that of P. pellucida is an opaque black. Longer mandibular barbels than Kryptopterus. Adipose fin always present, pectoral spine with small, but well-developed serrations, 60-78 anal fin rays.
Sexing Males have a cylindrical or conical genital papilla with a wide pore at the tip; this papilla is fragile, short or retracted in females. The tapering, curved male papilla is approximately the same length as the second or third anterior rays of the anal fin. The female papilla is usually hidden in the urogenital depression, but if exposed, is never more than half as long as these fin rays.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution Africa: Upper Nile to West Africa. Chad, Niger, Senegal, Cavally, Boubo, Bandama, Agnebi, Volta, Ouémé, Ogun, Mé, Tano, Mono and Cross.
African Waters, Nile, Upper Nile (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Chad (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Nigeria Waters, Niger (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Sénégal (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Côte de Ivoire Waters, Bandama (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Cavalla (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Côte de Ivoire Waters, Boubo (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Côte de Ivoire Waters, Agnébi (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Volta (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Ouémé (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Nigeria Waters, Ogun (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Tano (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Mono (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Cross (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 2019.
pH 6.4 - 7.2
Temperature 25.0-28.0°C or 77-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Occurs in deep water. In the aquarium, prefers water that has a current but is not turbulent.
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding In the wild, feeds on plankton and crustaceans. In the aquarium, is sometimes fussy about food; prefers small live, frozen or freeze-dried organisms but will generally accept flake food. User data.
Furniture Best kept in a tank with moderate to dense plant growth. Unlike common glass cats, this species tends to hug the substrate during the day. In the wild, usually found in the shelter of overhanging clumps of grasses or sedges.
Compatibility A fragile, easily injured fish. Best kept in groups of 6 or more, the more the better. Suitable tank mates include other peaceful, small to medium-sized fish.
Breeding Not reported in the aquarium. In the wild, the fish begin spawning during the end of the rainy season right through to the end of the dry season.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 7) v. 8 (no. 47) (art. 55), pp 445.
Registered Keepers There are 20 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list.
There is but a single wish to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars!
There are 9 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Parailia pellucida QR code LFS label creator
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Last Update 2020 Nov 08 05:12 (species record created: 2004 Feb 23 00:00)