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Parailia occidentalis (Pellegrin, 1901)

Image contributors to this species:

Hippocampus Bildarchiv (1) Brian Sidauskas (1) Joe Cutler (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 51 - 68. Adipose fin present; inner side of pectoral spine feebly serrated, with small to very small serrations; 51-68 soft anal fin rays; vomerine teeth usually absent. As with all Parailia, has four pairs of barbels and likes to be kept in a group in the aquarium. Habitat: Confined to large and moderate rivers; sometimes penetrates into estuaries; gregarious schooling species, such schools probably an important prey for several larger carnivorous species. As well as living in the rivers this species may venture into brackish waters of the estuaries. Reproduction: Oviparous, eggs are unguarded. Colouration: The defining character of this species is a dark spot at the caudal peduncle and there is a dark band running from the head to the caudal peduncle. Etymology: The specific name occidentalis: Latin for western, referring to Cap Lopez, Gabon, west coast of Africa, type locality.

Common Name:

Dusky African glass catfish

Synonyms:

Physailia pellucida, Ailia occidentalis, Physailia occidentalis , P. ansorgii, P.ansorgi, Physailia villiersi

Family:

Schilbeidae

Distribution:

Africa: Ogowe, Congo, Quanza, Luculla, Chiloango Rivers. Type locality: Cap Lopez, French Congo.

Size:

7.0cm. (2¾ins)

Temp:

23-26°C (73-79°F)

p.H.

6.5-7.2.

IUCN Red List

This species has a wide distribution, with no known major widespread threats. It is therefore listed as Least Concern. It has also been assessed regionally as Least Concern for central Africa. Data within southern Africa are scarce and more comprehensive surveys required to confirm the true extent of its distribution, so it is therefore assessed as Data Deficient within this region. Needs updating (IUCN 2010).

Reference:

da Costa, L. & Moelants, T. 2010. Parailia occidentalis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010.
De Vos, L., 1995. Results of a systematic revision of African schilbeids at the species level. p.113-364. In L. De Vos. A systematic revision of the African Schilbeidae (Teleostei, Siluriformes) with an annotated bibliography, Chapter 3. Ann. Mus. R. Afr. Centr. Zool. vol. 271.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2019. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 12/2019 ).
Seegers, L. 2008 The catfishes of Africa. A handbook for identification and maintenance. Aqualog Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, Germany. 604 p.

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

Parailia occidentalis

Parailia occidentalis
Ngounié, Moyen-Ogooué, Gabon

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