Liobagrus
marginatus
(Günther, 1892)
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his month (Feb.2007) we cover a family that I have included for
the first time on the monthly factsheet series. namely Amblycipitidae,
a family of loach shaped catfishes from Southern
Asia, China, Taiwan and Japan. We concentrate for
the first time on the species, Liobagrus marginatus.
As you can see on the above image
the strange bulbous head that this species and others from the
genus adorn and also the continuous adipose fin and caudal.
Quite a peculiar looking catfish to say the least :-)
The image below shows the well developed barbel arangement
of Liobagrus marginatus.
There are three genera, Amblyceps, Liobagrus and
Xiurenbagrus but the
first two are the species we tend to see although they are still
pretty rare in the trade. The differences are Amblyceps:
Nostrils close together; cup-like depresion below opercular
flap present. Liobagrus: Nostrils
far apart; no cup-like depresion below opercular flap.
This family are closely related to the Bagridae family and are
reported to be able to live out of the water for a period of
time.
The ichthyologist who discovered this species, Albert Günther,
was born in Esslingen in Swabia (Germany) in the year 1830 and
died at the age of 84 at the outbreak of the First World War
in 1914. He studied theology in Bonn and Berlin and later studied
medicine in Tübingen. He went to the British Museum in
1856, where he worked on ichthyology. Following the death of
John Edward Gray in 1875 he was made director of the zoology
department of the Natural History Museum in London, remaining
so until 1895. Apart from fishes, he also worked on the reptiles
and amphibians in the Museum collection.
Dorsal fin short with a week concealed spine.
Anal fin short with about 9-18 rays. Pelvic fins have 6-7 rays.
Gill openings wide and the gill membranes are free from the isthmus.
Nostrils far apart; no cup-like depression below opercular flap. Adipose
fin long, low and keel-like, and continuous with rounded or truncate
caudal fin. 4 pairs of barbels.
Body brown/olive overlaid with lighter speckling. Fins Golden brown.
Barbels lightly coloured.
Would certainly need water movement in the aquarium as they come
from fast moving streams in their natural habitat.
Hiding places should also be introduced for their well being
and to make them feel more secure in their surroundings.
Not reported.
| Sexual
differences |
Not reported.
|
| Feeding |
In their normal habitat they will greedingly feed on aquatic insects
and insect larvae. In the aquarium Daphnia, frozen and live. Also
frozen foods such as bloodworm and cyclops.
| Glossary
of Terms |
Isthmus:
fleshy throat
region of a fish which extends forward from the ventral part
of the chest and narrows anteriorly, and externally separating
the two gill chambers; that narrowed portion of the breast
which lies between the gill chambers and separates them.
Opercular: Pertaining to the operculum; gill
cover. Often used for the opercle.
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| Etymology |
Liobagrus: Greek,
leio = smooth + Mozarabic bagre, Greek, pagros = a kind of
fish.
|
| References |
Burgess, W.E., 1989 An atlas
of freshwater and marine catfishes. A preliminary survey of
the Siluriformes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City,
New Jersey (USA). 784 p.
Sands, David., 1985 Catfishes of The World,
Volume 5 Bagridae & Others. Dee Bee Books, 116 Hesketh
Lane, Tarleton, Nr.Preston, Lancs.
Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia;
Albert
C. L. G. Günther
Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 1 Feb.
2007 "Huang Ho." Online Map/Still. http://secure.britannica.com/eb/art-557
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| Photo
Credits |
© Zhou
Hang @
 |
