Clarias pachynema Boulenger, 1903
photo by RMCA

Family:  Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes)
Max. size:  35.6 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Africa: from the coastal rivers of south Cameroon (up to the Sanaga river) southwards to the OgoouĂ© system in Gabon and the middle Congo basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ref. 78218). Outside this area also reported from the Lualaba/upper Congo (Ref. 106245), the Kouilou-Niari in Republic of Congo (Ref. 92841), the Niger Delta (Ref. 57129) and Cross River in Nigeria (Ref. 31256, 57129), and from the Chad (Ref. 13331). A report from the Oueme River in Benin needs confirmation (Ref. 57129, 81644).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): -0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 81-95; Anal spines: -0; Anal soft rays: 63-76; Vertebrae: 65-67. Diagnosis: head length 19.6-24.6% SL (Ref. 81644). Head pointed in dorsal outline; snout short; tooth plates small; eyes dorsally located; "dermosphenotic" and supraorbital bones joined in specimens over 80 mm SL (Ref. 248). Frontal fontanella long and narrow ("knife-shaped")(Ref. 248, 57129, 81644). Occipital process long and oval-shaped (Ref. 248). Distance between occipital process and dorsal-fin base 4.3-10.5% SL (m = 8.1) (Ref. 81644). Gill rakers long, slender and distantly set (Ref. 248), 11-19 on 1st gill arch (Ref. 81644). Suprabranchial organ well developed (Ref. 248). Pectoral spine serrated on both sides (Ref. 57129), strongly on posterior face, weakly on anterior face (Ref. 81644). 65-67 vertebrae (Ref. 57129). Coloration: no information on colour in life (Ref. 57129). Preserved specimens uniformly dark brown on back and sides, and yellowish-brown on belly (Ref. 57129, 81644). Vertical series of small white spots on flanks (Ref. 57129).
Biology:  Nothing is known on the biology and reproduction of this species (Ref. 78218).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 April 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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