All FishesAuchenoglanididaeParauchenoglanis  |  | 

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Scientific Name Parauchenoglanis punctatus  (Boulenger, 1902)
Common Name Spotted Giraffe Catfish
Type Locality Lindi River, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Synonym(s) Auchenoglanis punctatus
Etymology Parauchenoglanis: The Greek prefix para means near; in reference to the resemblance to Auchenoglanis. 
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 410mm or 16.1" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification In all Parauchenoglanis the small eyes are not covered by a transparent skin (having a free border). The first dorsal spine is small, the second large and strong followed by seven branched fin rays (rarely eight). Pectoral fin with one spine and 7-8 branched rays, pelvic fin with six rays (of which five are branched), anal fin with 6-10 branched rays. Edge of caudal is straight or rounded.

This species' barbels are extremely long, maxillary barbel reaching at least to pectoral spine base, external mandibular barbel always reaching beyond spine tip. Adipose fin solid and higher than in other species (except for some adults of P. altipinnis). Head dark brown, typically darker than flanks, sometimes with indistinct, large, dark marks. Flanks brown, occasionally with a purple hue, and 6-10 (rarely 11) vertical rows of very dark to black separate dots, each smaller than the eye. In younger specimens dark vertical bands may be barely apparent. Belly pale brown to whitish.
General Remarks See also Fresh and Brackish Water Fishes of Lower Guinea, West Central Africa, Stiassny, Teugels, Hopkins, pg.603 Geerinckx T., Adriaens D., Teugels G.G. & Verraes W., 2004. A systematic revision of the African catfish genus Parauchenoglanis Boulenger, 1911 (Siluriformes: Claroteidae). Journal of Natural History, 38 (6): 775-803. Geerinckx T., Risch L., Vreven E., Adriaens D. & Teugels G.G., 2007. Claroteidae. In Poissons d’eaux douces et saumâtres de Basse Guinée, ouest de l’Afrique Centrale – The fresh and brackish water fishes of Lower Guinea, West Central Africa (Stiassny M.L.J., Teugels G.G. & Hopkins C.D., eds). RMCA (Tervuren) & IRD (Paris), p. 586-629.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Africa: Congo River system.
African Waters, Congo (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 2009.
Temperature 24.0-28.0°C or 75.2-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding In nature, preys on insect larvae, crustaceans, and small fishes - not a fussy eater in the aquarium and will eat most foods. User data.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1902, v. 1 (pt 1) (art. 4), pp 267, Pl. 29 (figs. 1-1a).
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2019 Oct 06 04:58 (species record created: 2004 Nov 13 00:00)