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Amphilius rheophilus Daget, 1959

Image contributors to this species:

Rehoboth Aquatics, USA (2) Gina Walsh (1) Upscale Aquatics (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8. Dorsal-fin base distinctly ahead of pelvic-fin insertions; distance from head to dorsal fin less than 20% of standard length; interorbital space about 35% of head length; caudal-peduncle long and relatively slender, its length over twice its depth, caudal fin forked, with lower lobe distinctly longer than upper lobe; maxillary barbell rather short, less than 60% of head length; snout length about 60% of head length; branchiostegal membrane weakly notched on midventral line. Aquarium Care: Can be kept in aquaria with a small grained gravel or sand substrate, and well planted with a slight current to facilitate their natural habitat. Provide rockwork and caves. This genera prefer cooler temperatures in the aquarium. Diet: Mosquito larvae, Tubifex, Cyclops, Daphnia, grindal worms, vegetable food, tablet and flake. Etymology: The specific name rheophilus: rhéos, stream, current or rushing stream; phílos, fond of, referring to its occurrence in fast-flowing upper tributaries of rivers and streams.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Amphiliidae

Distribution:

Western Africa: Guinea, Liberia, Senegal. Type locality: Gambie à Mpantié (parc national du Niokolo-Koba); Gambie à Banharé.

Size:

12.0cm. (4¾ins)

Temp:

18-22°c (63-71°f.)

p.H.

6.5-7.5.

IUCN Red List

Amphilius rheophilus is listed as Least Concern, due to the its large EOO (29,105 km2). The ongoing effects of mining, deforestation, agriculture, pollution and dams are limiting the quality and extent of the preferred habitat so there may be localised extirpation of this species. Additional research is needed to determine the extent of this species within the Rio Corubal and Gambie River drainages (IUCN 2020).

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. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 11/2025 ).
Schmidt, R. 2020. Amphilius rheophilus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020.
Skelton, P.H., L.M. Risch and D. Paugy, 2003. Amphiliidae. p. 117-143 In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douce et saumâtres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, Tome 2. Coll. Faune et Flore tropicales 40. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgique, Museum National d'Histoire Naturalle, Paris, France and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris, France. 815 p.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

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

Amphilius rheophilus

Amphilius rheophilus
Dorsal view

Amphilius rheophilus
Koinadugu, Sierra Leone

Amphilius rheophilus

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