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Hop to next section All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name Clarias buettikoferi  Steindachner, 1894
Common Name
Type Locality Buluma, Liberia.
Synonym(s) Clarias bulumae, Clarias dorsimarmoratus, Clarias guineensis, Clarias liberiensis
Pronunciation klar ee ass - boo tik off err aye
Etymology Clarias: From the Greek chlaros, meaning lively; in reference to the ability of the fish to live for long periods out of water. Named after J. Büttikofer, who collected the holotype.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 192mm or 7.6" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Clarias species are characterized by having an elongated body; a soft rayed dorsal fin extending to, or nearly to, the caudal fin base; a soft rayed anal fin extending from just behind the anus to the caudal fin base; pectoral fins each with a serrated anterior bony spine; head depressed, covered largely by firmly sutured, surface sculptured bony plates forming a protective helmet; four pairs of flagellate barbels (nasals, maxillaries, inner and outer mandibulars); air breathing organs derived from the 2nd and 4th epibranchials within a superbranchial chamber.

Dorsal rays 57-68; anal rays 43-53; vertebrae 50-52. Head rather rectangular in dorsal outline; snout broadly rounded. Frontal fontanelle long and narrow ('knife-shaped'); occipital fontanelle oval-shaped. The `dermosphenotic' and supraorbital bones are fused. Pectoral spine slightly curved, showing strong downward pointed serrations on its inner side and relatively small downward pointed serrations on its outer side. Openings of the secondary canals of the lateral line appear as irregular white spots on the body.
Sexing The genital papilla, which is to the right of the anus as you look at the fish with its head to the left, is elongated and pointed in males while it is round and relatively larger (and larger than the anus) in females. In ventral view especially, females are much broader in the body than males of equal age and rearing practices.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Africa: Upper Gambia up to the Agnebi river in Côte d'Ivoire. Reported from Ghana.
African Waters, Côte de Ivoire Waters, Agnébi (click on these areas to find other species found there)
African Waters, Gambia, Upper Gambia (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 2019.
pH 6.0 - 8.0
Temperature 20.0-27.0°C or 68-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Omnivorous and predatory. Will eat virtually anything that can be considered edible. User data.
Furniture Open spaces for swimming and some cover is required.
Compatibility Must be housed with lively, robust large fish.
Suggested Tankmates Large Cyprinids (Silver Sharks, Tinfoil or Spanner Barbs for example) or Central American Cichlids.
Breeding Not reported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Notes from the Leyden Museum v. 16 (nos 1-2, art. 1), pp 53, Pl. 3 (fig. 1).
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2020 Sep 28 01:31 (species record created: 2006 Dec 26 02:43)