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Cranoglanis bouderius (Richardson, 1846)

Image contributors to this species:

Zhou Hang (1) Freshwater Fishes of China in Coloured Illustrations (1) Johnny Jensen's Photographic Library (2) Cheilinus Aquarium Photography (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

There is not much information on the keeping of Cranoglanis species but they are predators so would need to take this into account if purchasing. Not seen very often in the hobby. Description: Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6; Anal soft rays: 28 - 29. No scale, straight and complete lateral line. Short dorsal fin, the highest ray almost equals the length of the head. Long maxillary barbel reaches to the middle of the pectoral fin. Swimming bladder is heart-shaped, divided into three chambers. Colouration: Olive coloured body, gradually become white starting from the stomach. All fins white grey. Habitat: Found in river bottom with clear water flows. Diet: Lives on shrimps and small fishes. Usually caught as a food fish. Etymology: The specific name bouderius: Latinisation of boidárion or boídion, both diminutives of bou´s, bull, ox or buffalo, referring to Chinese vernaculars New yu (“buffalo fish”) and Nou yu (“cow fish”) as reported by John Reeves, who commissioned Chinese artists to paint or illustrate fishes while working as a tea inspector in China (1812–1831).

Common Name:

Helmet Catfish

Synonyms:

Bagrus bouderius, Cranoglanis bouderius bouderius, Macrones sinensis, Cranoglanis sinensis

Family:

Cranoglanididae

Distribution:

Asia: Kwangsi-Province in China, Zhu-jiang River.

Size:

43.0cm (17ins)

Temp:

20-24°C (67-75°F)

p.H.

6.0-7.2.

IUCN Red List

The species has a relatively wide distribution in several river basins in southern China. However, once common, the species has declined by at least 50% in the last twenty years, but within the past three generations (around 10 years) the species is estimated to have decline by more than 30% (K. Cui and H. Zhou pers. comm. 2011) due to overfishing and other threats, and it is expected that the decline is likely to continue due to ongoing fishing pressure and increasing levels of pollution and habitat loss. It is assessed as Vulnerable based on the past and ongoing inferred decline (needs updating IUCN 2011).

Reference:

Cui, K. & Zhao, H.H. 2011. Cranoglanis bouderius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2009. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (03/2012).
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.
Zheng, C.-Y. 1990 Cranoglanididae. p. 294-297. In J.-H. Pan, L. Zhong, C.-Y. Zheng, H.-L. Wu and J.-H. Liu (eds). 1991. The freshwater fishes of Guangdong Province. Guangdong Science and Technology Press, Guangzhou. 589 p.

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

Cranoglanis bouderius

Cranoglanis bouderius

Cranoglanis bouderius
Head view

Cranoglanis bouderius

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