AquaticRepublic.com - Dinotopterus cunningtoni (Clariidae) All Fishes

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Dinotopterus cunningtoni** Boulenger, 1906
Common Name
Type Locality	Mpala, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lake Tanganyika.
Synonym(s)	Dinopterus cunningtoni
Pronunciation	kahn ning tone ee
Etymology	Dinotopterus: From the Greek, di-, meaning two, noton, meaning back and pteron, meaning fin; in reference to the presence of the two dorsal fins (rayed and adipose). Named after WA Cunnington, who collected the fish.
Species Information
Size	1750mm or 68.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Easily distinguished from congeners by the presence of a distinct adipose fin.
Sexing	In ventral view especially, females are much broader in the body than males of equal age and rearing practices.
General Remarks	Occurs more commonly in rocky areas within Lake Tanganyika.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Africa: Lake Tanganyika. African Waters, Western Rift Valley Lakes, Tanganyika (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Near Threatened , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2006.
pH	6.8 - 8.6
Temperature	20.0-25.0°C or 68-77°F (Show species within this range)
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 in the form of rockwork with adequate crevices is required.
Compatibility	House with lively, robust large fish, preferably in a Rift Lake setup.
Breeding	Not reported in captivity. In the wild, Dinotopterus cunningtoni have been reported to deposit eggs in the nests of spawning giraffe catfish (Auchenoglanis occidentalis). The eggs hatched sooner than those of the hosts and the young dispersed rapidly. Although young Dinotopterus preyed on host young in the aquarium, it is not known if the relationship between the two catfish is wholly parasitic.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Transactions of the Zoological Society of London v. 17 (pt 6, no. 1), pp 550, Pl. 31.
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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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.6.135.376
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:38 (species record created: 2006 Aug 10 03:22)