Chiloglanis swierstrai Van Der Horst, 1931
Lowveld suckermouth

Family:  Mochokidae (Squeakers or upside-down catfishes), subfamily: Chiloglanidinae
Max. size:  7 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: lowveld and warmer reaches of the Limpopo, Pongola and Incomati River systems in Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe (Ref. 6376, 7248, 52193).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-6; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 10-14. Description: Body long, slender (Ref. 52193). Eyes relatively large and close-set, interorbit 1.5 times orbit diameter; oral disc relatively small; barbels long; up to 14 very short teeth, widely spaced (Ref. 52193). Dorsal fin with 1 spine and 5-6 soft rays; anal fin with 3-4 unbranched and 7-10 branched rays; dorsal and pectoral spines nearly full length of fin; caudal fin forked (Ref. 52193).

Colouration: Brown above with off-white patches, off-white below, lateral line white, black base to caudal fin (Ref. 52193).

Biology:  Prefers sandy stretches of flowing rivers where it lives over sandbanks, burying itself in the sand (Ref. 52193). It feeds on small invertebrates (Ref. 7248, 52193). Breeds in summer (Ref. 7248, 52193). Oviparous (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 July 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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