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Dinotopterus cunningtoni Boulenger, 1906

Image contributors to this species:

Hippocampus Bildarchiv (1) SAIAB (2)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Habitat: Lives on sub-littoral zones with rocky habitat between 10–120 m. One of the largest species in Lake Tanganyika which tells you that this is not really an aquarium fish as it grows too big, but in captivity it is reported that it should attain half the size of this species in its natural habitat. Reproduction: Nothing known about reproduction, but reproduction probably occurs in coastal rather than deep water. Diet: Omnivorous, with a preference for fish. Migrates from the bottom at night to feed on clupeids near the surface. Etymology: The specific name cunningtoni: In honour of William Alfred Cunnington (1877–1958), British zoologist and anthropologist, who led Tanganyika expedition during which holotype. Remarks: In the IUCN Red List it is classed as 'near threatened'and it states that endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it is limited to the littoral zone it is heavily exploited by fisheries with strong indications of significant decline due to overfishing. More information is required to confirm this decline.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Clariidae

Distribution:

Africa: Lake Tanganyika. Type locality: Mpala, Lake Tanganyika.

Size:

175.0cm. (5ft 10ins)

Temp:

22-25°C (71-77°F)

p.H.

7.2-8.5.

Reference:

Dinotopterus cunningtoni Boulenger, 1906 collected in Zambia by South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity.
Seegers, L. 2008 The catfishes of Africa. A handbook for identification and maintenance. Aqualog Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, Germany. 604 p.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

Family: Clariidae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Dinotopterus cunningtoni
Juvenile

Dinotopterus cunningtoni
Zambia

Dinotopterus cunningtoni
Zambia-head view

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