Scientific Name
Clarias laeviceps laeviceps

Common Name
Catfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 74-93; Anal soft rays: 60 - 75; Vertebrae: 65 - 69. Head broad and oval-shaped dorsally; snout broadly rounded; eyes more laterally placed. Frontal fontanelle intermediate between `knife-shaped' and `sole-shaped'; occipital fontanelle rather long and oval shaped. Supraorbital and `dermosphenotic' bones become joined in specimens between 80 and 100 mm TL. Tooth plates relatively broad. Pectoral spine rather thin and slightly curved. Gill rakers small, slender and distantly set. Suprabranchial organ partially fills chamber. Openings of the secondary sensory canals regularly arranged.

Classification

Classified By

Gill, 1862

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Airbreathing catfishes (Clariidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: Saint Paul River in Liberia eastward to the Volta system of Ghana.

Range

8°N - 3°N

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Freshwater; demersal

Trophic Level

3.36 s.e. 0.47 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

31.7 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (28 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated