Dsecription:
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total):
72-88; Anal soft rays: 56 - 71; Vertebrae: 55 - 60.
Head rather pointed in dorsal outline; snout slightly
rounded; eyes located more dorsally. Frontal fontanelle
short and squat (`sole-shaped'); occipital fontanelle
small and oval-shaped. The `dermosphenotic' and supraorbital
bones become sutured in larger specimens (above 65
mm SL). Tooth plates relatively small. Pectoral spine
robust and slightly curved. Number of gill rakers
varies with SL. Suprabranchial organ well developed,
nearly filling the cavity. Openings of the lateral
branches of the lateral line irregularly placed. Habitat:
Found in lakes, rivers and floodplains (during breeding
season). Diet: Stomach contents consisted
of sand, plants, larvae of Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera
and Chironomidae, remains of insects and fish scales.
Reproduction: Juvenile specimens
were found in isolated pools in the forest which might
indicate that reproduction takes place during the
rainy season.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
Clarias dolloi,
Clarias congicus
Family:
Clariidae
Distribution:
Africa:
Lower and middle Congo River system, including Lake
Tumba and the Pool Malebo; Chiloango system and Ogowe
River. Type locality: River Ogowe,
Gabon.
Size:
30.0cm. (12ins)
Temp:
22-28°C
(71-83°F)
p.H.
6.0-7.5.
Reference:
Froese, R. and D. Pauly.
Editors. 2014. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic
publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 11/2014 ). Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist
of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes),
and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa
1418:1-628. Teugels, G.G., 1986. A systematic
revision of the African species of the genus Clarias
(Pisces; Clariidae). Ann. Mus. R. Afr. Centr., Sci.
Zool., 247:199 p.
Clarias
gabonensis Bas-Congo, Democratic Rep. of the Congo
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