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Gladys' loach catfish (Phractura gladysae) — Amphiliidae

Gladys' loach catfish

Phractura gladysae
Family: Amphiliidae

The Gladys' loach catfish (Phractura gladysae) is a freshwater fish of the family Amphiliidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12.4 cm
Water
Freshwater
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

Gladys' loach catfish is a slender mountain-stream catfish (Amphiliidae) from fast-flowing fresh water of Central Africa. The species grows to about 8 cm and has an extremely slender, elongate body with bony platelets, barbels and a long tail base, adapted to cling to stones in current. As a nocturnal bottom-dweller it lives among rocks and gravel of clear streams and snaps at insect larvae and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Gladys' loach catfish?

The Gladys' loach catfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Gladys' loach catfish live?

The Gladys' loach catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Gladys' loach catfish get?

The Gladys' loach catfish grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Gladys' loach catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Gladys' loach catfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gladys' bandmeerval sourced
English name
Gladys' loach catfish sourced
Scientific name
Phractura gladysae
Family
Amphiliidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.4 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Phractura

More from the family Amphiliidae

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