Biology
provided by Arkive
This cave-dwelling fish feeds opportunistically on particles that fall into the lake, from bat droppings to animal carcasses and insects (2). Due to the lack of light in the cave where it lives, this species is sightless, detecting prey by means of taste buds and other senses on the barbels (3). There is currently no data available on its breeding habits (5).
Conservation
provided by Arkive
The protection of the Aigamas Cave is vital in the conservation of this species, and the present owner is sympathetic to the sensitivity of the cave, only allowing access or collection of the cave catfish with a Nature Conservation Permit (5). Twenty captive specimens were held in the National Zoological Gardens' aquarium in Pretoria for several years (5), but no longer persist (7). There is also a move to provide legislative protection for this rare and unique fish (5).
Description
provided by Arkive
The cave catfish is a freshwater, cave-dwelling fish (2). This unusual fish lacks pigment and appears a pinkish white colour (5). It has an extended eel-like body, with long dorsal and anal fins (3). The head has a rectangular shape and the rounded snout (2) carries four pairs of thread-like barbels (4). On the upper surface of the head the eyes are either entirely absent or extremely small and covered with skin (2). The Latin species name, cavernicola, means 'cave dwelling'.
Habitat
provided by Arkive
Inhabits open, clear water over rocky shelves (6).
Range
provided by Arkive
Found only in the Aigamas Cave in Namibia (2).
Status
provided by Arkive
Classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1).
Threats
provided by Arkive
The cave catfish is found only within a single cave in Namibia and is therefore at inherent risk of extinction due to any chance event. The main threat to the species comes from the depletion of ground water within the cave, and the exploitation of aquifer water may pose the most serious threat in the long-term (5).
Diagnostic Description
provided by Fishbase
Devoid of pigment. Eyes extremely small; covered with skin; dorsally located. Head rectangular in dorsal outline; snout broadly rounded. Frontal fontanelle long and narrow; occipital fontanelle long and oval-shaped. Supraorbital and `dermosphenotic' bones fused. Premaxillary tooth plate rather broad. gill rakers long, slender and distantly set. Suprabranchial organ greatly reduced. Openings of the secondary sensory canals regularly arranged along flanks.
- Recorder
- Crispina B. Binohlan
Morphology
provided by Fishbase
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 71 - 76; Analsoft rays: 66 - 61
- Recorder
- Crispina B. Binohlan
Trophic Strategy
provided by Fishbase
Described from caves in South-West Africa. Feeds on insects and worms (Ref. 248).
- Recorder
- Crispina B. Binohlan
Biology
provided by Fishbase
Lacks pigment. Lives in caves (Ref. 248) and is adapted to life underground (Ref. 78218); over shelves in open, clear water. Feeds on bat droppings, animal carcasses and terrestrial insects that fall into the lake (Ref. 7248).
Importance
provided by Fishbase
fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
Clarias cavernicola
provided by wikipedia EN
The golden cave catfish (Clarias cavernicola)[2] is a critically endangered species of airbreathing catfish.[3] This cavefish is only known to live in the Aigamas cave, Otjozondjupa region, Namibia.[4][5] It has also been reported from the nearby Dragon's Breath Cave, but this is an error.[6] The golden cave catfish lack pigmentation and are up to 16.1 cm (6.3 inches) in standard length.[5] They have very small eyes that are covered with skin, and are probably effectively blind.[5] They feed on detritus and invertebrates that fall into the lake in which they live. The population is estimated at 200–400 individuals.[7] Little is known about its reproduction, and attempts to breed it in captivity have failed.[8] The population is threatened by chance events and water extraction from the cave lake, which has resulted in a drop of the water level.[3]
It is the only known cavefish in mainland Southern Africa.[9]
See also
References
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^ Bills, R. (2007). "Clarias cavernicola". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T63363A12662977. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63363A12662977.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
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^ "Clarias cavernicola". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 24 January 2006.
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^ a b Bills, R. (2007). "Clarias cavernicola". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T63363A12662977. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63363A12662977.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021. Listed as Critically Endangered (CR B1+2c, E v2.3)
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^ Cave catfish (Clarias cavernicola) at ARKive Archived 2005-11-26 at the Wayback Machine. Images of Life on Earth
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^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2011). "Clarias cavernicola" in FishBase. December 2011 version.
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^ Proudlove, G.H. (2018–2019). "Clarias cavernicola". cavefishes.org.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
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^ Bruton, M. N. (1995). "Threatened fishes of the world:Clarias cavernicola Trewavas, 1936 (Clariidae)". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 43 (2): 162. doi:10.1007/BF00002486. S2CID 44350023.
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^ "Clarias cavernicola". 2005-02-19. Archived from the original on 2005-02-19. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
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^ Aldemaro, R., editor (2001). The Biology of Hypogean Fishes. Developments in Environmental Biology of Fishes. ISBN 978-1402000768
- license
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- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
Clarias cavernicola: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
The golden cave catfish (Clarias cavernicola) is a critically endangered species of airbreathing catfish. This cavefish is only known to live in the Aigamas cave, Otjozondjupa region, Namibia. It has also been reported from the nearby Dragon's Breath Cave, but this is an error. The golden cave catfish lack pigmentation and are up to 16.1 cm (6.3 inches) in standard length. They have very small eyes that are covered with skin, and are probably effectively blind. They feed on detritus and invertebrates that fall into the lake in which they live. The population is estimated at 200–400 individuals. Little is known about its reproduction, and attempts to breed it in captivity have failed. The population is threatened by chance events and water extraction from the cave lake, which has resulted in a drop of the water level.
It is the only known cavefish in mainland Southern Africa.
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
