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

Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Juvenile
Juvenile
Juvenile
Juvenile

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Parauchenoglanis ngamensis** (Boulenger, 1911)
Common Names	Zambezi Grunter Zambesi-knorbaber (South Africa)
Type Locality	Okovango River, near Lake Ngami, Botswana, southern Africa.
Synonym(s)	Auchenoglanis ngamensis
Etymology	Parauchenoglanis: The Greek prefix para means near; in reference to the resemblance to Auchenoglanis.
Species Information
Size	380mm or 15" 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. The overall colour of this species varies considerably from bright to virtually blackish brown. Purple hue occasionally present. Belly brown to whitish. Zambezi And Okavango specimens are characterized by five to seven vertical rows of blackish spots on background of lighter spots all over body. Kasai specimens typically lack background pattern, though intermediate forms may be found.
Genus Topic	Cryptic species diversity in Parauchenoglanis ngamensis
General Remarks	See also Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa; Skelton. 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: Okavango, upper Zambesi and Kasai River system. African Waters, Okavango (Cubango) (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Zambesi, Upper Zambesi (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.
pH	6.2 - 7.5
Temperature	22.0-26.0°C or 71.6-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	dH 4-25
Husbandry Information
Feeding	In its natural habitat feeds on small fishes and invertebrates, such as snails, shrimp and insects. User data.
Furniture	In nature, prefers rocky habitats or marginal vegetation in slow flowing rivers and lagoons, often sheltering under trees.
Breeding	Produces relatively few large eggs suggesting parental care, but no details are known.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Catalogue of the fresh-water fishes of Africa v. 2, pp 371, Fig. 287.
Registered Keepers	There are 3 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 is but a single record of this fish being seen, view it.
Forum BBCode

	Search for P. ngamensis
	Look up P. ngamensis on AquaticRepublic.com
	Look up P. ngamensis on Fishbase
	Look up P. ngamensis on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up P. ngamensis on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.243.47.2059
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:35 (species record created: 2008 Jun 09 01:33)