Identifying a fish from a recent African expedition

Miguel Figueiredo · Post by **Miguel Figueiredo** » 13 Jun 2004, 03:04

Hi,

Can you help me identifying this fish?

It is about 7 cm long and was caught a few weeks ago in Guinea-Bissau.

It is perhaps a Chrysichthys but which species?

Thank you,

Miguel Figueiredo

Post by **Silurus** » 13 Jun 2004, 04:18

Chrysichthys maurus, but this is based more on the distribution than anything else. Have you got clearer pictures?

Stuey · Post by **Stuey** » 13 Jun 2004, 22:44

could it be one of the tatia spp.?

Post by **Silurus** » 13 Jun 2004, 22:49

Tatia is South American, not African.

Miguel Figueiredo · Post by **Miguel Figueiredo** » 14 Jun 2004, 00:04

Silurus wrote:Chrysichthys maurus, but this is based more on the distribution than anything else. Have you got clearer pictures?

Hi,

This fish has 3 dark spots. They are very clear and obvious. The pics I saw from Chrysichthys maurus didn't show these spots.

Clearer pics: You can see the same pics, with the original resolution (very large) here:

http://sfish.com/fm2004/catfish1.jpg
http://sfish.com/fm2004/catfish2.jpg

You can also see a complete description of the collecting trip here.

http://sfish.com/fm2004

Thank you,

Miguel

Post by **Silurus** » 14 Jun 2004, 01:17

Given the size of the adipose fin and the shape of the snout, I would still say C. maurus is the best bet. The other possibilities that are anywhere close are C. teugelsi and C. nigrodigitatus, but both these species have more slender snouts than your fish.

Miguel Figueiredo · Post by **Miguel Figueiredo** » 14 Jun 2004, 01:38

Silurus wrote:Given the size of the adipose fin and the shape of the snout, I would still say C. maurus is the best bet.

It might. It might also be an undescribed species. The pattern of this fish is unique - if the fish is known then it should be possible to identify it because of the 3 spots.

Next week I'l try to find the Aqualog's African Catfishes in the public library (I don't have this book). Perhaps the fish is there.

Miguel

Post by **Silurus** » 14 Jun 2004, 01:53

I strongly suspect the spots are juvenile coloration that will disappear with age (the fish in the picture is very small for a Chrysichthys after all).

FWIW, the Aqualog book isn't particularly accurate with the identifications.

Stuey · Post by **Stuey** » 15 Jun 2004, 16:43

Apologies

mis-read post title

PlecoCrazy · Post by **PlecoCrazy** » 16 Jun 2004, 03:21

Not that i am an expert but when I first saw your pics I thought of a juv synodontis notatus. That is just my two cents worth.

Post by **Silurus** » 16 Jun 2004, 06:42

Not Synodontis. Eyes are too big and snout is too short. Adipose fin also too small.

Erwin · Post by **Erwin** » 16 Jun 2004, 11:58

Are you really sure that these spots are spots and not just dirt what is sticking at the body of the fish?

Erwin

Miguel Figueiredo · Post by **Miguel Figueiredo** » 19 Jun 2004, 02:23

Erwin wrote:Are you really sure that these spots are spots and not just dirt what is sticking at the body of the fish?

Yes, I'm really sure. I've cought two fish having the same spots. It was the first thing I noticed, when I took the fish out of the water. The spot, close to the head is very peculiar. "It should be easy to identify", I thought, but it stills remains unidentified

I've seen pics of bagrids having dark areas but nothing close to this Chrysichthys sp. "Orango".

For instance:

There iis even one completly black:

If you look at the eyes, body shape and dorsal fin it really seams a Chrysichthys:

Miguel