Giraffe catfish facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Giraffe catfish
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Auchenoglanis scutatus, Schmitz, 1912 Auchenoglanis vittatus, Mokelo, 1978 Pimelodus occidentalis, Valenciennes, 1840 Auchenaspis occidentalis, (Valenciennes, 1840) Auchenoglanis biscutatus occidentalis, (Valenciennes, 1840) Auchenoglanis occidentalis occidentalis, (Valenciennes, 1840) Auchenoglannis occidentalis, (Valenciennes, 1840) Oxyglanis sacchii, Vinciguerra, 1898 Auchenoglanis occidentalis tanganicanus, Boulenger, 1906 Auchenoglanis occidentalis tchadiensis, Pellegrin, 1909 Auchenoglanis occidentalis tchadensis, Pellegrin, 1909 Auchenoglanis tchadensis, Pellegrin, 1909 Auchenoglanis acuticeps, Pappenheim, 1914 Auchenoglanis wittei, Giltay, 1930 Auchenoglanis occidentalis tanganyikanus, Jayaram, 1966

The giraffe catfish, Auchenoglanis occidentalis, is an African catfish. It eats plants off the floor of lakes and streams. The diet of giraffe catfish is very dependent upon their environment. They keep an omnivorous diet but mainly eat insects present in the waters.

Distribution and habitat

The giraffe catfish is found throughout Africa in lakes and rivers, partially due to introduction and establishment in other areas. It is found in many important lakes and rivers such as the Nile and Lake Chad. Its distribution covers includes bodies of water from East Africa to West Africa. It generally lives in shallow waters with muddy bottoms.

Anatomy and appearance

This fish has a maximum size that sources say are between two and three feet.

The giraffe-like pattern will fade with age to a two-tone mottled brown. Various subspecies have been described for this fish, indicating some geographical variation in coloration.

Reproduction

Eggs are scattered in a nest and guarded by the male. Dinotopterus cunningtoni takes advantage of the care and allows the male giraffe catfish to care for its eggs and young, an example of interspecific brood care.

Relationship to humans

The giraffe catfish is occasionally imported for the aquarium trade. Because of its large eventual size and its fast rate of growth, it is inappropriate for smaller aquaria. This fish will readily accept a variety of foods and is tolerant of a wide variety of water conditions. They will scavenge the aquarium looking for food, which could cause in the uprooting of plants.

This fish is also an important food fish in Africa.