Clarias platycephalus Boulenger 1902

Diagnosis: head length 24.5-28.4% SL (Ref. 81644, 101841). Head broad, long and flattened, rectangularly outlined in dorsal view (Ref. 248), its width 17.4-21.9% SL (Ref. 81644). Eyes lateral; postorbital bones in contact (Ref. 81644). Interorbital distance 42.6-51.8% HL (Ref. 81644, 101841). Tooth plates extremely large (Ref. 248), width of premaxillary tooth plate 32.4-40.0% HL, and of vomerine tooth plate 26.4-36.2% HL (Ref. 101841). Frontal fontanelle somewhat intermediate between `sole-shaped' and `knife-shaped'; occipital fontanelle oval-shaped (Ref. 248). Pectoral spine straight (Ref. 248), strongly serrate on anterior margin only (Ref. 81644). 14 or fewer gill rakers (Ref. 101841), which are short and widely separated (Ref. 248). Supra-branchial organ consists of well-developed arborescent structures but not completely filling the cavity (Ref. 248). Dorsal fin length 60.4-65.6% SL; distance from dorsal to caudal fin 1.6-3.7% SL (Ref. 101841). Flank neuromasts arranged in a regular pattern (Ref. 81644).Colouration: both in life and in preservation colouration is marbled: large irregular black blotches on a pale brown base present on back, flanks, dorsal and anal fins, and on posterior/upper side of paired fins; ventrum and lower parts of paired fins beige, as are distal parts of unpaired fins; caudal fin bears a series of pale and dark bands (Ref. 248, 81644, 101841). Never an irregular pattern of small white spots on body (Ref. 101841).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 72 - 83; Analsoft rays: 56 - 65; Vertebrae: 59 - 63

Restricted to equatorial forest and galley forest rivers (Ref. 248). Inhabits smaller rivers, ditches and inundation zones (Ref. 78218). Feeds on fish (Ref. 248, 78218).

fisheries: