Cave catfish | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Clariidae |
Genus: | Clarias |
Species: | C. cavernicola
|
Binomial name | |
Clarias cavernicola
Trewavas, 1936
|
The cave catfish [2] (Clarias cavernicola) [3] is a critically endangered species of airbreathing catfish. [4] This cavefish is only known to live in the Aigamas cave, Otjozondjupa region, Namibia. [5] [6] It has also been reported from the nearby Dragon's Breath Cave. [7] The golden cave catfish lack pigmentation and are up to 16.1 cm (6.3 inches) in standard length. [6] They have very small eyes that are covered with skin, and are probably effectively blind. [6] They feed on detritus and invertebrates that fall into the lake in which they live. The population is estimated at 200–400 individuals. [8] Little is known about its reproduction, and attempts to breed it in captivity have failed. [9] The population is threatened by chance events and water extraction from the cave lake, which has resulted in a drop of the water level. [4]
It is the only known cavefish in mainland Southern Africa. [10]
Cave catfish | |
---|---|
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Clariidae |
Genus: | Clarias |
Species: | C. cavernicola
|
Binomial name | |
Clarias cavernicola
Trewavas, 1936
|
The cave catfish [2] (Clarias cavernicola) [3] is a critically endangered species of airbreathing catfish. [4] This cavefish is only known to live in the Aigamas cave, Otjozondjupa region, Namibia. [5] [6] It has also been reported from the nearby Dragon's Breath Cave. [7] The golden cave catfish lack pigmentation and are up to 16.1 cm (6.3 inches) in standard length. [6] They have very small eyes that are covered with skin, and are probably effectively blind. [6] They feed on detritus and invertebrates that fall into the lake in which they live. The population is estimated at 200–400 individuals. [8] Little is known about its reproduction, and attempts to breed it in captivity have failed. [9] The population is threatened by chance events and water extraction from the cave lake, which has resulted in a drop of the water level. [4]
It is the only known cavefish in mainland Southern Africa. [10]