Cave catfish (Clarias cavernicola) fish species and information / pictures of Cave catfish - Clarias cavernicola

Cave catfish (Clarias cavernicola) fish species information

Scientific Name
Clarias cavernicola

Common Name
Cave catfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 71-76; Anal soft rays: 66 - 61. Devoid of pigment. Eyes extremely small; covered with skin; dorsally located. Head rectangular in dorsal outline; snout broadly rounded. Frontal fontanelle long and narrow; occipital fontanelle long and oval-shaped. Supraorbital and `dermosphenotic' bones fused. Premaxillary tooth plate rather broad. gill rakers long, slender and distantly set. Suprabranchial organ greatly reduced. Openings of the secondary sensory canals regularly arranged along flanks.

Classification

Classified By
Trewavas, 1936
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Catfish (Siluriformes)
Family
Airbreathing catfishes (Clariidae)

Distribution

Region
Africa
Distribution
Africa: known only from the type locality, Aigumas Cave, North Otavi, Namibia. Major threat is depletion of ground water (Ref. 7248).
Range
18°S - 20°S

Environment

Climate
Tropical
Water Temperature From
20 °C
Water Temperature To
26 °C
Depth From - meters
Unknown m
Depth To - meters
Unknown m
Zone
demersal
Environment
Freshwater; demersal
Trophic Level
2.77 s.e. 0.26 Based on food items.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
False
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
True
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
16.1 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
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
Vulnerability
Low vulnerability (17 of 100)
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tm=1; Fec=50)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Critically Endangered (CR) (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii))