AquaticRepublic.com - Amphilius uranoscopus (Amphiliidae) All Fishes

Close-up of unculi on the ventral surface of the pectoral spine
Dorsal view
Karum River, Kenya 5400 ft

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Amphilius uranoscopus** (Pfeffer, 1889)
Common Names	Stargazer Mountain Catfish Gewone Bergbaber (South Africa), Stjernekiggermalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Ushonda and Monda, upper ranges of Wami R., Tanzania.
Synonym(s)	Amphilius brevidorsalis, Amphilius cubangoensis, Amphilius grandis, Amphilius hargeri, Amphilius leroyi, Amphilius platychir cubangoensis, Amphilius transvaaliensis, Anoplopterus uranoscopus, Chimarrhoglanis leroyi, Pimelodus uranoscopus
Pronunciation	ahm FILL ee us
Etymology	Amphilius: Not clear; probably from the Greek amphi, meaning both sides and leios, meaning smooth.
Species Information
Size	195mm or 7.7" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Most amphiliid species are found in fast-flowing water of clear, rocky streams at high elevations or rapids of large lowland rivers (Berra 2001; Roberts 2003).basins (Seegers et al. 2003). Species of Amphilius are adapted for fast flow and rocky habitats (Skelton 1986). Morphological adaptations for these habitats include expanded pectoral and pelvic fins with a thickened first ray, depressed body, dorsally directed eyes and reduced swim bladder (Skelton 1986; Walsh et al. 2000). The large pelvic fins form, in conjunction with the body, a feeble sucking disc that enables the fish to cling to rocks (Jackson 1961b).
Habitat Information
Distribution	Africa: Widespread in central and east Africa. Known from the Tana River, Kenya to Pongolo River, Natal. Also known from the Okavango, Zambezi systems, and east coast rivers south to the Mkuze system in northern Natal. African Waters, Zambesi, Upper Zambesi (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Okavango (Cubango) (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Maputo, Pongolo (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Mkuze (click on these areas to find other species found there) African Waters, Tana (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2018.
Temperature	20.0-25.0°C or 68-77°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Feeds mainly on insects and small organisms from the substrate. User data.
Furniture	Rocky substrate is the natural habitat. Flowing water.
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten v. 6 (art. 4), pp 16.
Registered Keepers	There is no registered keeper.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 3 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Look up A. uranoscopus on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up A. uranoscopus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.24.123.1578
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:37 (species record created: 2005 Jun 19 00:00)