Sunday 19 May
Cave catfish (Clarias cavernicola)
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Find out here.Cave catfish fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
- Print factsheet
Cave catfish description
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Siluriformes |
| Family | Clariidae |
| Genus | Clarias (1) |
The cave catfish (Clarias cavernicola) is a freshwater, cave-dwelling fish (2). This unusual fish lacks pigment and appears a pinkish white colour (3). It has an extended eel-like body, with long dorsal and anal fins (4). The head has a rectangular shape and the rounded snout (2) carries four pairs of thread-like barbels (5). On the upper surface of the head the eyes are either entirely absent or extremely small and covered with skin (2). The Latin species name, cavernicola, means 'cave dwelling'.
- Size
- Length: 16.1 cm (2)
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Related species
Cave catfish biology
This cave-dwelling fish feeds opportunistically on particles that fall into the lake, from bat droppings to animal carcasses and insects (2). Due to the lack of light in the cave where it lives, the cave catfish is sightless, detecting prey by means of taste buds and other senses on the barbels (4). There is currently no data available on its breeding habits (3).
TopCave catfish range
The cave catfish is found only in the Aigamas Cave in Namibia (2).
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Species with a similar range
Cave catfish habitat
The cave catfish inhabits open, clear water over rocky shelves (6).
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Species found in a similar habitat
Cave catfish status
The cave catfish is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List (1).
Cave catfish threats
The cave catfish is found only within a single cave in Namibia and is therefore at inherent risk of extinction due to any chance event. The main threat to the species comes from the depletion of ground water within the cave, and the exploitation of aquifer water may pose the most serious threat in the long-term (3).
TopCave catfish conservation
The protection of the Aigamas Cave is vital in the conservation of this species, and the present owner is sympathetic to the sensitivity of the cave, only allowing access or collection of the cave catfish with a Nature Conservation Permit (3). Twenty captive specimens were held in the National Zoological Gardens' aquarium in Pretoria for several years (3), but no longer persist (7). There is also a move to provide legislative protection for this rare and unique fish (3).
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View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. |
Authentication
Authenticated (6/9/02) by Professor Paul Skelton. Managing Director, South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)
http://www.saiab.ac.za/
Glossary
- Anal fin
- In fish, an unpaired fin on the under surface of a fish, behind the anus.
- Barbels
- Fleshy projections near the mouth of some fish.
- Dorsal fin
- In fish, the unpaired fin found on the back of the body.
References
-
IUCN Red List (March, 2008)
http://www.iucnredlist.org -
Fishbase (August, 2002)
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=2106&genusname=Clarias&speciesname=cavernicola - Paxton, J.R. and Eschmeyer, W.N. (1994) Encylopedia of Fishes. UNSW Press, Sydney.
- Skelton, P.H. (1987) South African Red Data Book - Fishes. South African National Scientific Programmes report, 137: 33 - 35.
- Sands, D. (1985) Catfishes of the World, Volume 5: Bagridae and others. Dee Bee Books, Preston.
- Skelton, P.H. (2001) A complete Guide to the freshwater fishes of southern Africa. Revised Edition. Struik Publishers, Cape Town.
- Skelton, P.H. (2002) Pers. comm.
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Cave catfish
© Charles Maxwell / Underwater Video Services
Underwater Video Services
PO Box 282
Constantia
Cape Town
7848
South Africa
Tel: +27 21 794 3595
Fax: +27 21 794 5449
charles@underwatervideo.co.za
http://www.underwatervideo.co.za
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