Scientific Name
Heterobranchus bidorsalis

Common Name
African catfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 40-46; Anal soft rays: 49 - 58; Vertebrae: 62 - 63. Head oval-shaped to rectangular dorsally; snout broadly rounded; eyes rather laterally placed. Frontal fontanelle long and narrow; occipital fontanelle relatively long and oval shaped. `Postorbital' bones completely united. Suprabranchial organ well developed. Pectoral spine smooth. Openings of secondary sensory canals with regular geometric pattern. Body and fins occasionally with irregularly placed spots.

Classification

Classified By

Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Airbreathing catfishes (Clariidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: Nile. Africa: Chad basin, Niger, Upper Volta, Guinea and Senegal. Also known from the Gambia River (Ref. 7357).

Range

35°N - 4°N

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

22 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Freshwater; demersal

Trophic Level

3.69 s.e. 0.66 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

150 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5625 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (72 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)