Heterobranchus longifilis Valenciennes, 1840

Vundu

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Siluriformes \| Clariidae
Synonyms	Clarias loangwensis, Heterobranchus laticeps, Heterobranchus platycephalus, ... more
Common names	Sampa, Catfish, Sampa, ... more

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Image of Heterobranchus longifilis (Vundu)

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Main reference

Teugels, G.G., B. Denayer and M. Legendre. 1990. (Ref. 270)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 150 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4967); max. published weight: 55.0 kg (Ref. 7248)

Environment

Demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); freshwater; depth range 10 - ? m (Ref. 7248)

Climate / Range

Tropical; 22°C - 23°C (Ref. 2059); 27°N - 19°S

Africa: Nile, Niger, Senegal, Congo system, upper and middle Zambezi. Also from Lakes Tanganyika and Edward (Ref. 7248), Gambia and Benue River, Chad and Volta basins, and the coastal basins of Guinea to Nigeria (Ref. 7357).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

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 (Ref. 4967); caudal fin barred. Openings of secondary canals hardly visible but display a regular pattern.

An uncommon species which inhabits large rivers (Ref. 4967). Is the largest freshwater species in southern Africa. Occurs in large deep rivers within the mainstream or in deep pools and lakes. Most active at night, feeding on any available food, including invertebrates and insects when small, fish and other small vertebrates when large. Scavenges off large carcasses and offal from riverside villages. Live for 12 or more years (Ref. 7248).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Not Evaluated	Harmless

Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

Tools
Biogeographic modelling \| Bio-Quiz \| E-book \| Field guide \| Identification keys \| Length-frequency wizard \| Life-history tool \| Point map

Special reports
Check for Aquarium maintenance \| Check for Species Fact Sheets \| Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

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Summary page \| Point data \| Common names \| Photos

Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.11)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
High to very high vulnerability (69 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Binohlan, Crispina B.

Modified by Bailly, Nicolas

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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