All FishesAuchenoglanididaeParauchenoglanis  |  | 

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Scientific Name Parauchenoglanis ngamensis  (Boulenger, 1911)
Common Names Zambezi Grunter
Zambesi-knorbaber (South Africa)
Type Locality Okovango River, near Lake Ngami, Botswana, southern Africa.
Synonym(s) Auchenoglanis ngamensis
Etymology Parauchenoglanis: The Greek prefix para means near; in reference to the resemblance to Auchenoglanis. 
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 380mm or 15" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification In all Parauchenoglanis the small eyes are not covered by a transparent skin (having a free border). The first dorsal spine is small, the second large and strong followed by seven branched fin rays (rarely eight). Pectoral fin with one spine and 7-8 branched rays, pelvic fin with six rays (of which five are branched), anal fin with 6-10 branched rays. Edge of caudal is straight or rounded.

The overall colour of this species varies considerably from bright to virtually blackish brown. Purple hue occasionally present. Belly brown to whitish. Zambezi And Okavango specimens are characterized by five to seven vertical rows of blackish spots on background of lighter spots all over body. Kasai specimens typically lack background pattern, though intermediate forms may be found.
General Remarks See also Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa; Skelton. Geerinckx T., Adriaens D., Teugels G.G. & Verraes W., 2004. A systematic revision of the African catfish genus Parauchenoglanis Boulenger, 1911 (Siluriformes: Claroteidae). Journal of Natural History, 38 (6): 775-803. Geerinckx T., Risch L., Vreven E., Adriaens D. & Teugels G.G., 2007. Claroteidae. In Poissons d’eaux douces et saumâtres de Basse Guinée, ouest de l’Afrique Centrale – The fresh and brackish water fishes of Lower Guinea, West Central Africa (Stiassny M.L.J., Teugels G.G. & Hopkins C.D., eds). RMCA (Tervuren) & IRD (Paris), p. 586-629.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Africa: Okavango, upper Zambesi and Kasai River system.
African Waters, Congo, Lower Congo, Kasai (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Okavango (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Zambesi (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2009.
pH 6.2 - 7.5
Temperature 22.0-26.0°C or 71.6-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters dH 4-25
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding In its natural habitat feeds on small fishes and invertebrates, such as snails, shrimp and insects. User data.
Furniture In nature, prefers rocky habitats or marginal vegetation in slow flowing rivers and lagoons, often sheltering under trees.
Breeding Produces relatively few large eggs suggesting parental care, but no details are known.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Catalogue of the fresh-water fishes of Africa v. 2, pp 371, Fig. 287.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2019 Oct 09 05:43 (species record created: 2008 Jun 09 01:33)