The genus Xenoclarias (Pisces, Siluriformes) in Lake Victoria, with a redescription of Xenoclarias eupogon and notes on the biology of the species
Open Access
- 1 February 1975
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Zoology
- Vol. 175 (2) , 201-217
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1975.tb01396.x
Abstract
The acquisition of large collections of the catfish Xenoclarias Greenwood from Lake Victoria, East Africa, demonstrated a need for a reappraisal of the taxonomy of the genus. It is suggested that only one species, Xenoclarias eupogon (Norman) is found in the lake but that it is very variable in many of its morphometric characters. The species is redescribed from data obtained for 72 fishes from various localities and depths in the lake. Observations of the food of the fish show it to be almost entirely insectivorous with a preference for Chironomidae over Chaoboridae larvae. Evidence is also put forward to support the view that X. eupogon breeds on or close to rocky shores.Keywords
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