Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Schilbeidae (Schilbid catfishes)
Etymology: congensis: After the type locality of this species, the Congo River (Ref. 43912).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
Africa: lower and middle Congo River basin (Ref. 43912, 78218), including Pool Malebo (=Stanley Pool) (Ref. 43912) and Wagenia Falls (Ref. 106245).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 47.0 cm NG male/unsexed; (Ref. 43912)
Dorsal spines (total): 1. Diagnosis: adipose fin always present; anterior two nostrils closer to each other or almost at same distance from each other than posterior ones; inner mandibular barbel very slender, rudimentary or absent (sometimes only present on one side of head), if present never reaching beyond anterior eye border; eyes very small (especially in large specimens: negative allometry), 12.0-23.3% HL; snout reaching beyond lower jaw; inner side of pectoral spine feebly serrated; pelvic fin base slightly advanced in comparison with other related species, situated at same level as origin of dorsal fin base (Ref. 43912).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Oviparous, eggs are unguarded (Ref. 205). Might be a species adapted to rapids (Ref. 43912). Max. recorded SL 36.7 cm (Ref. 43912).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairing (Ref. 205).
De Vos, L., 1986. Schilbeidae. p. 36-53. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 3570)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00631 (0.00205 - 0.01941), b=3.16 (2.91 - 3.41), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Assuming fec > 10,000).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (22 of 100).
🛈