The giraffe catfish, Auchenoglanis occidentalis, is an Africancatfish. It eats plants off the floor of lakes and streams. The diet of giraffe catfish is very dependent upon their environment. They keep an omnivorous diet but mainly eat insects present in the waters. [2]
The giraffe catfish is found throughout Africa in lakes and rivers, partially due to introduction and establishment in other areas.[3] It is found in many important lakes and rivers such as the Nile and Lake Chad. Its distribution covers includes bodies of water from East Africa to West Africa. It generally lives in shallow waters with muddy bottoms.[1]
Anatomy and appearanceedit
This fish has a maximum size that sources say are between two and three feet.
The giraffe-like pattern will fade with age to a two-tone mottled brown. Various subspecies have been described for this fish, indicating some geographical variation in coloration.[3]
Reproductionedit
Eggs are scattered in a nest and guarded by the male. Dinotopterus cunningtoni takes advantage of the care and allows the male giraffe catfish to care for its eggs and young, an example of interspecific brood care.[1]
Relationship to humansedit
The giraffe catfish is occasionally imported for the aquarium trade. Because of its large eventual size and its fast rate of growth, it is inappropriate for smaller aquaria. This fish will readily accept a variety of foods and is tolerant of a wide variety of water conditions. They will scavenge the aquarium looking for food, which could cause in the uprooting of plants.[3]
This fish is also an important food fish in Africa.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abc"Auchenoglanis occidentalis". FishBase. Retrieved 1 March 2007.
^ abcdPlanetCatfish • Catfish of the Month • October 1999
Risch, L.M., 2003. Claroteidae. p. 60-96 In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douce et saumâtres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, Tome 2. Coll. Faune et Flore tropicales 40. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgique, Museum National d'Histoire Naturalle, Paris, France and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris, France. 815 p.
^Abobi, S.M.; Oyiadzo, J.W.; Wolff, M. (17 Oct 2019). "Comparing feeding niche, growth characteristics and exploitation level of the giraffe catfish Auchenoglanis occidentalis (Valenciennes, 1775) in the two largest artificial lakes of northern Ghana". African Journal of Aquatic Science. 44 (3): 261–272. doi:10.2989/16085914.2019.1628704. Retrieved 16 Mar 2024.
January 01, 1970
giraffe, catfish, giraffe, catfish, auchenoglanis, occidentalis, african, catfish, eats, plants, floor, lakes, streams, diet, giraffe, catfish, very, dependent, upon, their, environment, they, keep, omnivorous, diet, mainly, insects, present, waters, scientifi. The giraffe catfish Auchenoglanis occidentalis is an African catfish It eats plants off the floor of lakes and streams The diet of giraffe catfish is very dependent upon their environment They keep an omnivorous diet but mainly eat insects present in the waters 2 Giraffe catfish Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Siluriformes Family Claroteidae Genus Auchenoglanis Species A occidentalis Binomial name Auchenoglanis occidentalis Valenciennes 1840 Synonyms Auchenoglanis scutatus Schmitz 1912 1 Auchenoglanis vittatus Mokelo 1978 Pimelodus occidentalis Valenciennes 1840 Auchenaspis occidentalis Valenciennes 1840 Auchenoglanis biscutatus occidentalis Valenciennes 1840 Auchenoglanis occidentalis occidentalis Valenciennes 1840 Auchenoglannis occidentalis Valenciennes 1840 Oxyglanis sacchii Vinciguerra 1898 Auchenoglanis occidentalis tanganicanus Boulenger 1906 Auchenoglanis occidentalis tchadiensis Pellegrin 1909 Auchenoglanis occidentalis tchadensis Pellegrin 1909 Auchenoglanis tchadensis Pellegrin 1909 Auchenoglanis acuticeps Pappenheim 1914 Auchenoglanis wittei Giltay 1930 Auchenoglanis occidentalis tanganyikanus Jayaram 1966 Contents 1 Distribution and habitat 2 Anatomy and appearance 3 Reproduction 4 Relationship to humans 5 ReferencesDistribution and habitat editThe giraffe catfish is found throughout Africa in lakes and rivers partially due to introduction and establishment in other areas 3 It is found in many important lakes and rivers such as the Nile and Lake Chad Its distribution covers includes bodies of water from East Africa to West Africa It generally lives in shallow waters with muddy bottoms 1 Anatomy and appearance editThis fish has a maximum size that sources say are between two and three feet The giraffe like pattern will fade with age to a two tone mottled brown Various subspecies have been described for this fish indicating some geographical variation in coloration 3 Reproduction editEggs are scattered in a nest and guarded by the male Dinotopterus cunningtoni takes advantage of the care and allows the male giraffe catfish to care for its eggs and young an example of interspecific brood care 1 Relationship to humans editThe giraffe catfish is occasionally imported for the aquarium trade Because of its large eventual size and its fast rate of growth it is inappropriate for smaller aquaria This fish will readily accept a variety of foods and is tolerant of a wide variety of water conditions They will scavenge the aquarium looking for food which could cause in the uprooting of plants 3 This fish is also an important food fish in Africa 3 References edit a b c Auchenoglanis occidentalis FishBase Retrieved 1 March 2007 Abobi et al 2019 a b c d PlanetCatfish Catfish of the Month October 1999 Risch L M 2003 Claroteidae p 60 96 In C Leveque D Paugy and G G Teugels eds Faune des poissons d eaux douce et saumatres de l Afrique de l Ouest Tome 2 Coll Faune et Flore tropicales 40 Musee Royal de l Afrique Centrale Tervuren Belgique Museum National d Histoire Naturalle Paris France and Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement Paris France 815 p 1 Abobi S M Oyiadzo J W Wolff M 17 Oct 2019 Comparing feeding niche growth characteristics and exploitation level of the giraffe catfish Auchenoglanis occidentalis Valenciennes 1775 in the two largest artificial lakes of northern Ghana African Journal of Aquatic Science 44 3 261 272 doi 10 2989 16085914 2019 1628704 Retrieved 16 Mar 2024 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Giraffe catfish amp oldid 1214689118, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
