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Zaireichthys rotundiceps (Hilgendorf, 1905)

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This species along with a few others others were in the Leptoglanis genera but were reclassified by the works carried out by Mo, 1991; Diogo, 2003b and Roberts, 2003. There are still a few undescribed species. Description: Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-6; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 13; Vertebrae: 35 - 38. This species differs from Zaireichthys lacustris and Z. maravensis in possessing a premaxillary tooth patch that is less than 40% of the mouth width; it has shorter barbels than Z. wamiensis, maxillary barbel 0.9-1.3 in head length vs. 0.7-0.9; and it is distinguished from Z. compactus by higher number of branched pectoral-fin rays, 7 vs. 6. Habitat: Inhabits fairly shallow water. Reproduction: Occurs over sand, usually buried with just the eyes protruding. Reproduction: Eggs few (12-16) and large (3-5 mm diameter) suggesting possible parental care. Aquarium Care: Provide an aquarium with a sand substrate with a number of rocks in the rear of the tank. Smaller fish such as tetras can be added for the upper layers. Etymology: The genus name of Zaireichthys: meaning a fish from Zaire. The specific name of rotundiceps: rotundus, rounded; ceps, head, referring to semi-circular shape of head when seen from above. Remarks: As it currently stands, this species probably represents a complex of several different species.

Common Name:

Spotted sand catlet

Synonyms:

Gephyroglanis rotundiceps, Leptoglanis rotundiceps

Family:

Amphiliidae

Distribution:

Africa: Cunene, Okavango and Zambezi, Pungwe, Buse and Save basins, and Lake Malawi basin, Lake Rukwa basin. Type locality: In Bubu near Kondoa/Irangi.

Size:

4.0cm. (1½ins)

Temp:

22-25°c (71-77°f.)

p.H.

6.5-7.2.

IUCN Red List

Zaireichthys rotundiceps was previously regarded as a species complex and its exact distribution needs to be determined. It has been reported from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Kenya, and south to South Africa, but it might only be present in Tanzania. More information on the distribution, current status, ecology, uses and possible threats is needed for an accurate assessment of the risk of extinction of this species. This dwarf amphiliid catfish is therefore listed as Data Deficient (IUCN 2016).

Reference:

Bell-Cross, G. and J.L. Minshull, 1988. The fishes of Zimbabwe. National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. 294 p.
Eccles, D.H., D. Tweddle and P.H. Skelton, 2011. Eight new species in the dwarf catfish genus Zaireichthys (Siluriformes: Amphiliidae). Smithiana Bull. (13):3-28.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
FishBase team RMCA & Geelhand, D. 2016. Zaireichthys rotundiceps. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2023.FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 06/2023 ).
Roberts, T.R., 2003. Systematics and osteology of Leptoglaninae a new subfamily of the African catfish family Amphiliidae, with descriptions of three new genera and six new species. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 54(5):81-132.
Seegers, L., 2008. The catfishes of Africa: A handbook for identification and maintenance. Aqualog Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, Germany. 604 p.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

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

Zaireichthys rotundiceps
Lateral view-line drawing

Zaireichthys rotundiceps
Line drawing-lateral and dorsal head view

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