Blunt-toothed African catfish (Clarias ngamensis)

Scientific name: Clarias ngamensis Castelnau, 1861

Blunt-toothed African catfish (Clarias ngamensis)

The Blunt-toothed African catfish (Clarias ngamensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Clariidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 56-62; Anal soft rays: 50 - 58; Vertebrae: 56 - 60. Characterized by a relatively long vomerine tooth plate (5.9-14.4 % HL) and by a relatively short adipose fin (5.9-12.5 % SL), the length of which is a specific character of C. ngamensis. Head oval to rectangular in dorsal outline; frontal fontanelle long and narrow (`knife-shaped'); occipital fontanelle small and oval-shaped. Pectoral spine robust and slightly curved. The suprabranchial organ consists of well developed arborescent structures.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Clarias ngamensis
Family
Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes)
Order
Siluriformes (Catfish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
73.0
Environment
Freshwater; brackish; demersal; potamodromous
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Africa: Found in Quanza, Cunene, Okavango, Chobe, Lake Ngami, upper Zambezi (above Victoria Falls), Kafue, Lake Malawi, upper Lualaba, Luapula, Lakes Moero and Bangweulu, Pungwe, Buzi, Save, Limpopo, Incomati, lower Pongolo and lower Sabi/Lundi system. Also reported from the lower Shire
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.22-0.41)

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Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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