Clarias salae Hubrecht, 1881

Family:  Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes)
Max. size:  50.8 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: from the Géba (Guinea-Bissau) to the Cavally (Côte d'Ivoire) (Ref. 57129). Also reported from the Casamance (Senegal)(Ref. 57129).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): -0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 79-93; Anal spines: -0; Anal soft rays: 67-79; Vertebrae: 63-68. Diagnosis: typical extremely elongate, eel-shaped body (maximum body depth 8.7-13.9% of standard length); head length 20.2% SL (Ref. 57129). Head rather rectangular in dorsal outline; snout broadly rounded; eyes more dorsally located; frontal fontanelle intermediate between "knife-shaped" and "sole-shaped"; occipital fontanelle broadly oval-shaped; "dermosphenotic" and supraorbital bones are joined; tooth plates relatively small; premaxillary longer than vomerine (Ref. 248). Distance between occipital process and dorsal-fin base relatively large (8.3-12.4% of standard length); dorsal and anal fins (67.7-75.0% and 50.6-58.9%, respectively, of standard length) very long and sometimes partially confluent with caudal fin (Ref. 57129). Pectoral spine serrated on both sides (Ref. 248, 57129). Gill rakers long and distantly set (Ref. 248). Coloration: fresh specimens dark brown on back; sides marked with irregular blackish spots, belly light brown to beige; a vertical bar may be present on caudal fin (Ref. 57129). Flanks with vertical rows of small white spots (Ref. 248, 57129).
Biology:  Occurs in river systems which arise in mountainous areas and are entirely within the rain forest (Ref. 248). Very little is known about the biology, but on basis of its distribution the species appears to be restricted to the rain forest (Ref. 78218).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 October 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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