Clarias submarginatus Peters, 1882
Clarias submarginatus
photo by Mertens, P.

Family:  Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes)
Max. size:  16 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: Kribi (Kienke) and LobĂ©/Lobi in Cameroon (Ref. 248, 78218, 81644), Komo and Ntem in Cameroon and Gabon, and the Ogowe in Gabon (Ref. 81644). Other reports unconfirmed in Ref. 248, 78218 or 81644, including reports from the rivers Boumba and Lobi (Dja system, middle Congo River basin) in Cameroon (Ref. 51193), Luongo River (upper Congo River basin) in Zambia (Ref. 27609), Zambezi, Chobe and Kwando in Namibia (Ref. 37065) and Ehoma floodplain in Nigeria (Ref. 52861). Reports from the Kasai, Kwango and Kwilu systems in Ref. 11970 refer to Clarias platycephalus, C. angolensis and C. dumerilii (Ref. 114852).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 82-85; Anal soft rays: 67-74; Vertebrae: 66-69. Diagnosis: head short (Ref. 248), its length 18.3-20.6% SL (Ref. 81644), small and rather rounded in dorsal outline (Ref. 248). Eyes dorsally located; frontal fontanelle extremely short and oval-shaped; occipital fontanelle oval-shaped; "dermosphenotic" and supraorbital bones joined and well developed (Ref. 248). Tooth plates relatively broad (Ref. 248), width of premaxillary band 26.2-29.7% HL, width of vomerine band 24.5-26.5% HL (Ref. 81644). Pectoral spine slightly curved (Ref. 248), strongly serrated on posterior face, weakly serrated on its anterior face (Ref. 81644). Gill rakers long, slender and distantly set; suprabranchial organ well developed (Ref. 248). Oenings of secondary sensory canals regularly placed along flanks (Ref. 248, 81644). Description: dorsal fin (base length 69.4-73.2% SL) and anal fin (base length 53.8-56.8% SL) relatively long (Ref. 81644). Coloration: preserved specimens: uniform colouration; back, flanks and upper parts of paired fins pale brown, ventrum and lower parts of paired fins creamy white; caudal fin with a pale distal band; dorsal and anal fins with a pale submarginal band (Ref. 81644).
Biology:  The biology of this species is in the main unknown (Ref. 78218). Maximum size reported is 159mm TL (Ref. 81644).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 16 February 2009 (D2) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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