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Tanganyika claroteid catfish (Bathybagrus tetranema) — Claroteidae

Tanganyika claroteid catfish

Bathybagrus tetranema
Family: Claroteidae
LC · Least Concern

The Tanganyika claroteid catfish (Bathybagrus tetranema) is a freshwater fish of the family Claroteidae that grows up to 17 cm.

Length
17 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Tanganyika claroteid catfish is a catfish of the family Claroteidae, endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. The species has an elongate, scaleless body with barbels, a flattened head and stout fin spines. It lives on the bottom of the lake at depths of about 40 to 80 m, but not deeper. As a bottom predator it feeds on small fishes and benthic invertebrates. The stout fin spines can give a painful puncture wound; otherwise the fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Tanganyika claroteid catfish?

The Tanganyika claroteid catfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Tanganyika claroteid catfish live?

The Tanganyika claroteid catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Tanganyika claroteid catfish get?

The Tanganyika claroteid catfish grows to a maximum of about 17 cm.

Is the Tanganyika claroteid catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Tanganyika claroteid catfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Tanganyika claroteid catfish edible?

The Tanganyika claroteid catfish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Viervoeldraad-Tanganyikameerval sourced
English name
Tanganyika claroteid catfish sourced
Scientific name
Bathybagrus tetranema
Family
Claroteidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
17.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Bathybagrus

More from the family Claroteidae

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