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Acanthocleithron chapini Nichols & Griscom, 1917

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Relevant Information:

A. chapini is the type species of this genus and is the only member of its genera (monotypic). Description: The dorsal fin has a spine, which is not serrated. The not very long adipose fin that follows has weekly developed rays and the caudal fin is deeply forked (Seegers, L., 2008). Colouration: Ground colour yellowish or grey/olive, lighter towards the belly, with a speckled or marbled patter. Two dark bands, more or less regular in form, extend across the dorsum, one beneath the dorsal fin, the other beneath the adipose fin. there is also a dark spot on the caudal peduncle. The fins are yellowish (Seegers, L., 2008). Reproduction: Acanthcleithron chapini is a demersal species. It is oviparous with distinct pairing during breeding (Breder and Rosen 1966). Diet: It probably feeds on mollusc and insect larvae. Etymology: Genus name of Acanthocleithron - meaning acanthus, thorn; cleithrum, large bone that extends from base of pectoral fin and forms posterior edge of gill chamber, referring to spinous projection above base of pectoral spine. Specific epithet of chapini – in honour of ornithologist James Paul Chapin (1889-1964), joint leader of the Lang-Chapin expedition to the Congo that collected the type species. Remarks: The species is widespread or without major threats throughout the Central Africa assessment region and is assessed as Least Concern (IUCN 2010).

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Mochokidae

Distribution:

Africa: Ituri River and Congo River from Kisangani to Stanley Pool. Type locality: Avakubi [Ituri River], Congo.

Size:

5.5cm. (2¼ins)

Temp:

p.H.

Reference:

Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2023. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 07/2023 ).
Gosse, J.-P., 1986. Mochokidae. p. 105-152. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels, MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2.
Moelants, T. 2010. Acanthocleithron chapini. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010.
Seegers, L., 2008. The catfishes of Africa: A handbook for identification and maintenance. Aqualog Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, Germany. 604 p.

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

Acanthocleithron chapini

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