Smoothhead catfish (Clarias liocephalus)

Scientific name: Clarias liocephalus Boulenger, 1898

Smoothhead catfish (Clarias liocephalus)

The Smoothhead catfish (Clarias liocephalus) is a freshwater fish of the family Clariidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 22–28°C (72–82°F).

Smoothhead catfish care at a glance

Temperature
22–28°C (72–82°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 67-79; Anal soft rays: 53 - 67; Vertebrae: 55 - 58. Pectoral fin spine with serrations on the inner and upward directed on the outer side. Head oval to rectangular dorsally; snout broadly rounded; eyes more laterally located. Frontal fontanelle intermediate between `knife-shaped' and `sole-shaped'; occipital fontanelle long and oval-shaped. Supraorbital and `dermosphenotic' bones generally joined above 150 mm SL and more dorsally placed. Tooth plates relatively broad. Pectoral spine relatively short; its outer side strongly serrated over entire length. Gill rakers short and far apart. Openings of secondary sensory canals regularly arranged on flanks.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Clarias liocephalus
Family
Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes)
Order
Siluriformes (Catfish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
32.0
Environment
Freshwater; demersal
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Africa: Lake Victoria, Edward, George, small lakes of Uganda, Lake Kivu, smaller lakes of Rwanda, Lake Tanganyika, Bangweulu-Moero system, in Malawi, Kagera, Malagarazi, Ruzizi and Tana Rivers. Cunene, Okavango, upper Zambezi, and Kafue systems, Zambian Congo, Central Africa Great Lakes.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

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