Sampa (Heterobranchus longifilis)

Scientific name: Heterobranchus longifilis Valenciennes, 1840

Sampa (Heterobranchus longifilis)

The Sampa (Heterobranchus longifilis) is a freshwater fish of the family Clariidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 22–23°C (72–73°F).

Sampa care at a glance

Temperature
22–23°C (72–73°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26-35; Anal soft rays: 42 - 52; Vertebrae: 55 - 61. Head long, broad and somewhat rectangular in dorsal outline; snout broadly rounded; eyes with superolateral position. Frontal fontanelle long and narrow; occipital fontanelle oval-shaped. Tooth plates wide. Suprabranchial organ well developed. Pectoral spine strongly serrated on anterior side. Adipose fin with blackish posterior part, nearly as long as dorsal fin; caudal fin barred. Openings of secondary canals hardly visible but display a regular pattern.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Heterobranchus longifilis
Family
Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes)
Order
Siluriformes (Catfish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
150
Depth range
10 m (33 ft)
Environment
Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous; depth range 10 - ? m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Africa: Nile, Niger, Senegal, Congo system, upper and middle Zambezi. Also from Lakes Tanganyika and Edward, Gambia and Benue River, Chad and Volta basins, and the coastal basins of Guinea to Nigeria.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.11; tmax > 11; Fec > 10,000)

Sources

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

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