Auchenoglanis occidentalis (Valenciennes, 1840)
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 8; Anal spines: 3 - 4; Anal soft rays: 6 - 8. Diagnosis: head width usually less than 2/3 of standard length (Ref. 57126). Snout long and pointed, generally greater than half the head length in adults (Ref. 28714), length more than 0.9 times the head width in adults (less in juveniles) (Ref. 57126). Hind margin of adipose fin rounded; premaxillary dentition forming (in adults) two close-set oval plates (Ref. 57126). Maxillary barbel often blackish and only rarely reaching to anterior margin of opercula (Ref. 57126), usually not reaching beyond eye and much shorter than outer mandibular barbel (Ref. 28714, 81642). 8-12 (usually 10 or 11) gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch; palatine membrane with multiple invaginations, 1-4 of them forming longer lobes; dorsal margin of cleithral process ending in a point (visible only in adults)(Ref. 57126).
Common Names
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Claroteidae
Genus: Auchenoglanis
Species: Auchenoglanis occidentalis (Valenciennes, 1840)
Climate Zone
Location
Biology
Inhabits lakes and large rivers (Ref. 4967). Has never been observed in large quantities in forested areas (Ref. 57126). Occurs in shallow water with muddy bottom. Bottom feeder, omnivore, feeds on plankton, seeds, detritus (Ref. 13868), mollusks (Ref. 13868, 28714), mud, debris (Ref. 28714), insect larvae (Ref. 6868, 28714), worms and small Crustacea (Ref. 6868). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Nested eggs are guarded by the male parent (Ref. 47642). Furthermore, the male plays host to eggs and young of Dinotopterus cunningtoni which takes advantage of the already prepared nest and feed on the host brood (Ref. 49546). An example of interspecific brood care.
Habitat
demersal