HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOther freshwater fishAirbreathing shellear Airbreathing shellear (Kneria auriculata) Scientific name: Kneria auriculata Pellegrin, 1905 The Airbreathing shellear (Kneria auriculata) is a freshwater fish of the family Kneriidae. BiologyShoals occur in pools of small, clear, silt-free, rocky streams. Reported to breathe air and to climb over damp rocks and up the sides of waterfalls during migrations. Scrapes diatoms, algae, and detritus from rock surfaces and also takes small aquatic insects such as mayfly nymphs and midge larvae. Matures after a year. Breeds in spring and summer, larger females bear up to 600 eggs. Moves on to flooded grasslands during the rainy season.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameKneria auriculataFamilyKneriidae (Shellears)OrderGonorynchiformes (Milkfish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length7.0EnvironmentFreshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromousClimateTropicalDistributionAfrica: Upland streams of lower Zambezi, Pungwe, Buzi, and Save in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. A relict southern pocket occurs in the Crocodile (Incomati system), Transvaal. Identity of specimens from the Kafue and upper Zambezi requires confirmation. Also known from Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: potential More other freshwater fishFreshwater garfishXenentodon cancilaFinescale tigerfishDatnioides microlepisShort-tailed pipefishMicrophis brachyurus brachyurusPumpkinseedLepomis gibbosusLined soleAchirus lineatusSouth American lungfishLepidosiren paradoxaSee all other freshwater fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026