AquaticRepublic.com - Auchenoglanis tanganicanus (Auchenoglanididae) All Fishes

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Auchenoglanis tanganicanus** Boulenger, 1906
Common Name	Tanganyikan Giraffe Catfish
Type Locality	Lake Tanganyika, Kalambo
Synonym(s)	Auchenoglanis occidentalis tanganicanus
Etymology	Auchenoglanis: From the Greek, auchenos, meaning neck and glanis, meaning catfish; in reference to the long cranial shield.
Species Information
Size	501mm or 19.7" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The genus is diagnosed on the basis of a unique combination of characters: a deep and broad skull, narrow mouth, reduced pramaxillary tooth patches, anterior nostrils on the upper lip, and three large nuchal plates, the first which is in close proximity to the rear of the supraoccipital- a bone on the dorsal side of the great foramen(opening) of the skull. The adult body is dark dorsally and laterally but light ventrally. The adults have irregularely shaped brown spots of varying intensity on the body and the adipose fin. In very large adults, six small but evenly spaced prominent spots occur beginning under the dorsal fin and end on the caudal peduncle just above the lateral line. Each of these spots may be paired with a similar spot just above it. The brown spots are present on all of the fins but are less visible in the anal fin and paired fins especially in large specimens. The brown spots on the rayed fins are in an irregular pattern but occasionally form short bands. The barbels and upper lip are dark but the lower lip is lightly pigmented. The proximal end of the barbels is less dark. The sides and top of the head are brown and without spots. The lower side of the head is white. The anterior edge of the adipose fin rises gradually to its maximum height at the posterior end of the fin, well behind the mid-point of the fin.
General Remarks	There is a good chance the size potential of the different species of Auchenoglanis may be much bigger than what is shown on the data pages. Some of the current data comes from studies which do not always use fully grown adult fish, sizes will be adjusted as proof of larger adult sizes are revealed.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Restricted to Lake Tanganyika. African Waters, Western Rift Valley Lakes, Tanganyika (click on these areas to find other species found there) Log in to view data on a map.
IUCN Red List Category	Not Evaluated
Husbandry Information
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Retzer, ME, 2010. Taxonomy of Auchenoglanis Günther 1865 (Siluriformes: Auchenoglanididae). Zootaxa 2655: 25–51. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London v. 17 (pt 6, no. 1)
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 is no record of this fish being seen.
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Last Update	2013 Jul 20 13:44 (species record created: 2005 Jul 18 00:00)