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Dhont's catfish (Clarias dhonti) — Clariidae

Dhont's catfish

Clarias dhonti
Family: Clariidae
LC · Least Concern

The Dhont's catfish (Clarias dhonti) is a freshwater fish of the family Clariidae that grows up to 19 cm.

Length
18.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

Dhont's catfish is an African catfish of the family Clariidae from the eastern Congo basin. The species has an elongate, scaleless body with a flattened head, four pairs of barbels and long dorsal and anal fins reaching to near the tail. Like other Clarias species it possesses a tree-like accessory breathing organ with which it can breathe air and so survive in oxygen-poor water. As an omnivore it searches the bottom for invertebrates, small fishes and plant matter. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Dhont's catfish?

The Dhont's catfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Dhont's catfish live?

The Dhont's catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Dhont's catfish get?

The Dhont's catfish grows to a maximum of about 19 cm.

Is the Dhont's catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Dhont's catfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Dhont's catfish edible?

Yes, the Dhont's catfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Dhonts kieuwzakmeerval sourced
English name
Dhont's catfish sourced
Scientific name
Clarias dhonti
Family
Clariidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Clarias

More from the family Clariidae

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