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Chiloglanis pretoriae Van Der Horst, 1931

Image contributors to this species:

Christian Fry (1) Russell Brian Tate (3)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5 - 6; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 10 - 13. Body shape (shape guide): elongated. Habitat: Found in shallow rocky reaches, riffles and rapids of permanent rivers. Has a wider altitudinal range than most species, common where it occurs. Reproduction: Breeds during summer, laying eggs between rocks and in gravel. Oviparous. Is a useful indicator species in river conservation studies. Aquarium Care: Good oxygenated water from a power filter. Sand or gravel substrate with smooth rocks or pebbles. Their dorsal and pectoral fins are sharp and can cause wounds if not handled carefully. Diet: Feeds on aquatic insects such as mayfly nymphs and caddis fly and blackfly larvae. In the aquarium, algae, fly larvae foods, bloodworm, flake food. Etymology: pretoriae - a reference to Pretoria in South Africa.

Common Name:

Shortspine Rock Catlet

Synonyms:

Chiloglanis pumilus

Family:

Mochokidae

Distribution:

Africa: Incomati, Limpopo, middle and lower Zambezi, Pungwe and Busi basins, southern Africa. Type locality: Crocodile River, Pretoria District, Transvaal.

Size:

6.5cm. (2½ins)

Temp:

20-25°C (67-77°F)

p.H.

6.5-7.2.

IUCN Red List

Widespread in upper catchments from the Incomati River, South Africa north into the Limpopo River in southern Zimbabwe. In suitable habitats it is usually abundant. In parts of its range around Johannesburg and Pretoria in South Africa it seems to have become extirpated including in its type locality presumably due to varied pollution and flow modifications from industries and human settlements. Despite threats and local extinctions the species does not qualify for any of the threatened categories. First assessed in 2007 as Least Concern, this species status was re-evaluated during the Southern African Freshwater Fish assessment in 2016 and new information has not resulted in a change in status. Close monitoring is still recommended (IUCN 2017).

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. 2018. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 06/2018 ).
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.
Roux, F. & Hoffman, A. 2017. Chiloglanis pretoriae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017.
Skelton, P.H., 1993. A complete guide to the freshwater fishes of southern Africa. Southern Book Publishers. 388 p.

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

Chiloglanis pretoriae

Chiloglanis pretoriae
Dorsal view-Steelpoort River, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Chiloglanis pretoriae
Mouth view-Steelpoort River, Limpopo Province, South Africa

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