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 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Clarias cavernicola Trewavas, 1936 |
| Common Names | Cave Catfish Blinde Hohlenfisch (Germany), Hulemalle (Denmark), Spelonkbaber (Namibia) |
| Type Locality | Underground lake at Aigamas Cave, north of Otavi, about 19°25'S, 17°18'E, Namibia, southwestern Africa. |
| Pronunciation | klar ee ass |
| Etymology | Clarias: From the Greek chlaros, meaning lively; in reference to the ability of the fish to live for long periods out of water. caverna, cave in Latin and colere, to dwell, in Latin. |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 161mm or 6.3" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| Identification | Clarias species are characterized by having an elongated body; a soft rayed dorsal fin extending to, or nearly to, the caudal fin base; a soft rayed anal fin extending from just behind the anus to the caudal fin base; pectoral fins each with a serrated anterior bony spine; head depressed, covered largely by firmly sutured, surface sculptured bony plates forming a protective helmet; four pairs of flagellate barbels (nasals, maxillaries, inner and outer mandibulars); air breathing organs derived from the 2nd and 4th epibranchials within a superbranchial chamber. In common with most cave-dwelling animals, this species is devoid of pigment, in life the skin color is creamish flushed with pink or orange. The eyes vary from weakly developed to non-existant. |
| Sexing | The genital papilla, which is to the right of the anus as you look at the fish with its head to the left, is elongated and pointed in males while it is round and relatively larger (and larger than the anus) in females. In ventral view especially, females are much broader in the body than males of equal age and rearing practices. |
| General Remarks | See also Eleonora Trajano, Maria Elina Bichuette, B.G. Kapoor, Biology of Subterranean Fishes, Science Publishers (2010). Guy G. Teugels, A Systematic revision of the African species of the genus Clarias (Pisces ; Claridae). |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Africa: known only from the type locality, Aigumas Cave, North Otavi, Namibia. Major threat is depletion of ground water. African Waters, Aigamas cave (click on these areas to find other species found there) Log in to view data on a map. |
| IUCN Red List Category | Critically Endangered, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2007. |
| Temperature | 24.5-27.0°C or 76.1-80.6°F (Show species within this range) |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Feeding | Wild fish are coprophagous, eating bat guano; they also eat coprophagous invertebrates and small shrimps. It is thought larger fish cannibalize smaller individuals which is not unusual in the cave environment. User data. |
| Suggested Tankmates | This is a specialized species and the suggestions for the genus in general would be much too boisterous. |
| Breeding | Unknown. |
| Breeding Reports | There is no breeding report. |
| Further Information | |
| Reference | Novitates Zoologicae. A Journal of Zoology in Connection with the Tring Museum v. 40, pp 70, Pl. 2 (figs. 7-9). |
| Registered Keepers | There is but a single registered keeper, 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 2 records of this fish being seen, view them all. |
| Forum BBCode | |
| Search for C. cavernicola | |
 | Look up C. cavernicola on AquaticRepublic.com |
 | Look up C. cavernicola on Fishbase |
 | Look up C. cavernicola on Encyclopedia of Life |
 | Look up C. cavernicola on Global Biodiversity Information Facility |
 | LFS label creator |
| Last Update | 2020 Oct 21 12:19 (species record created: 2011 Aug 19 22:46) |