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Chrysichthys cranchii (Leach, 1818)

Image contributors to this species:

World Records Freshwater Fishing (1) Thomas Kobe (2) John P. Friel (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Habitat: Found in large rivers throughout the Congo system and prefers a rocky substrate or places where trees have fallen in the water. Diet: The diet of this species is insect larvae when young to a predator on fish when growing into adulthood. Remarks: This is a huge species when fully grown and it is not a fish for the home aquarium. The second and third thumbnail images show an albino form from the D.R. Congo which was captured by local fishermen.

Common Name:

Kokuni, Kamba Cat

Synonyms:

Pimelodus cranchii, Chrysichthys börressoni

Family:

Claroteidae

Distribution:

Africa: Lualaba River system, Congo basin. Type locality: Lubosi river, a tributary to Luala river, Lower Congo.

Size:

150cm. TL. (52ins-4ft 4ins)

Temp:

24-28°C (75-83°F)

p.H.

6.0-7.5.

Reference:

Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2015. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 04/2015 ).
Risch, L. and E.J. Vreven, 2007. Claroteinae. p. 607-629. In M.L.J. Stiassny, G.G. Teugels and C.D. Hopkins (eds.) The fresh and brackish water fishes of Lower Guinea, West-Central Africa. Volume I. Collection Faune et Flore tropicales 42. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris, France, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, and Musée Royal de l’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgium. 800 pp.
Seegers, L., 2008. The catfishes of Africa: A handbook for identification and maintenance. Aqualog Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, Germany. 604 p.

Family: Claroteidae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Chrysichthys cranchii
Caught by Jakub Vagner, courtesy of Jakub Vagner

Chrysichthys cranchii
Albino form

Chrysichthys cranchii
Albino form

Chrysichthys cranchii
Mbomo, Republic of the Congo

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