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Scientific Name Chiloglanis polypogon  Roberts, 1989
Common Name African Suckermouth Catfish
Type Locality High gradient stream along road from Mamfe to Bamenda, 88-94 kilometers southwest of Bamenda, Cross basin, Cameroon, western Africa.
Pronunciation Kee low glan iss - paw lee poe gone
Etymology Chiloglanis: From the Greek cheilos, meaning lip, and glanis, meaning catfish; in reference to the oral morphology. The name polypogon (noun in apposition, from the Greek "poly," multiple, and "pogon," beard)refers to the numerous mental barbels.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 55mm or 2.2" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification The second largest catfish genus in Africa after Synodontis. They are characterized by jaws and lips modified into a sucker or oral disc used for adhering to and feeding upon objects in fast-flowing waters. Generally reasonably small at 100 mm SL or less. species with forked caudal fins can show sexual dimorphism and is usually species-specific. Other characteristics in this hard-to-ID genus are the size of the adipose fin, the position of the adipose fin relative to pelvic and ventral fins, size of barbles, eyes and dorsal fin. Only a handful of species are identified on colouration. They can be distinguished from other African suckermouth catfish (of the genera Euchilichthys and Atopochilus) by their circular suckermouth disc. This is more elliptical in the other two genera.

Can be distinguished from South American suckermouth catfishes by lack of body armour plates. Can be distinguised from other African suckermouth catfish (of the genera Euchilichthys and Atopochilus) by its circular suckermouth disc. This is more eliptical in the other two genera.
Sexing Males with an elongate genital papilla. Some other species of Chiloglanis can be easily sexed in the males having enlarged anal and caudal fins of different shapes from the females.
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Distribution Africa: Cross River, Cameroon.
African Waters, Cross (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Near Threatened, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2019.
pH 6.4 - 7.0
Temperature 22.0-26.0°C or 71.6-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters A good current is strongly recommended.
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Feeding Will eat a wide variety of prepared and frozen foods. Supplement with algae wafers. User data.
Furniture Provide plenty of rocks for hiding. Tank does not need to be well-planted.
Compatibility Peaceful both with conspecifics and other fish, and therefore, suitable for the community tank.
Suggested Tankmates Good with many small- to mid-sized community fish. Ideal tankmates include fast-water Synodontis (such as S. brichardi and S. soloni), fast-water African characins and cyprinids like Nannocharax and Garra.
Breeding Not known in aquarium, although other species have been successfully bred in natural enclosures.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences (Series 4) v. 46 (no. 6), pp 168, Figs. 1b, 2b, 3c-d, 6a-b, 8.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2020 Sep 16 01:44 (species record created: 2003 Aug 14 00:00)