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Clarotes laticeps (Rüppell, 1829)

Image contributors to this species:

Hippocampus Bildarchiv (3) Johnny Jensen's Photographic Library (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: Dorsal soft rays (total): 57. Adipose fin in adults have a stiff spine. This is a very large species and is of course very predatory. It has been reported that it is so predacious that it has been known to suffocate on its prey. Not a good aquarium fish. Habitat: Inhabits rivers and feeds on crustaceans, insects, mollusks and fish. Etymology: The specific name laticeps: latus (L.), broad or wide; –ceps (Neo-Latin), headed, referring to its wide, depressed head.

Common Name:

Widehead catfish

Synonyms:

Chrysichthys cranchii, Pimelodus laticeps, Bagrus laticeps, Bagrus nigrita, Octonematichthys nigrita, Clarotes heuglinii, C. macrocephalus Chrysichthys macropogon, C.nigrita, C. pitmani

Family:

Claroteidae

Distribution:

Africa: Nile, Niger, Senegal, Bénoué, and Volta Rivers; also in Lake Chad. Type locality: Cairo.

Size:

80.0cm. (2ft. 8ins)

Temp:

20-26°C (67-79°F)

p.H.

6.5-7.5.

IUCN Red List

This species has a wide distribution, with no known major widespread threats. It is therefore listed as Least Concern (IUCN 2020).

Reference:

Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl 1991 Aquarien atlas. Bd. 3. Melle: Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde, Germany. 1104 p.
Diouf, K., Azeroual, A., Entsua-Mensah, M., Getahun, A. & Lalèyè, P. 2020. Clarotes laticeps. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

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

Clarotes laticeps
Head view

Clarotes laticeps

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