Golden cave catfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cave catfish |
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| Conservation status | |
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Clariidae
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| Genus: |
Clarias
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| Clarias cavernicola |
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The golden cave catfish, also known as Clarias cavernicola, is a special type of freshwater catfish. It is very rare and only lives in one place on Earth! This unique fish makes its home in an underground lake inside Aigamas Cave. This cave is found near Otavi, in the Kalahari Desert of Namibia, a country in Africa. The lake is about 45 m2 (480 sq ft) in size and can be anywhere from 30 to 52 m (98 to 171 ft) deep.
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A Special Home
The golden cave catfish lives in the shallow parts of the underground lake. The water here is very clear. This lake is the only place in the world where these fish are found. It is a very important source of water for people in this dry desert area.
Why It's Endangered
Sadly, the number of golden cave catfish is very low. This is because the water level in their lake is dropping. People use a lot of water from the lake, which makes it harder for the fish to survive. Because of this, the golden cave catfish is considered a critically endangered animal. Scientists believe there are only about 150 of these fish left in the lake.
What It Eats
The golden cave catfish is a scavenger. This means it eats things that fall into the lake. Its diet includes detritus, which is made up of things like bat droppings and animal carcasses. It also eats insects that accidentally fall into the water.
How It Looks
This fish can grow up to 16.1 cm (6.3 in) long. Because it has always lived in the dark cave, it doesn't need pigment (color) in its skin. So, the golden cave catfish is white! It has a long body, a bit like an eel. It also has long dorsal and anal fins. Its head has a rounded snout with four pairs of thin barbels. These barbels are like whiskers.
How It Finds Food
The golden cave catfish has very tiny eyes that are covered with skin. This means it is blind! But don't worry, it has other amazing ways to find its food. It uses its barbels, which are very sensitive. These barbels help the fish to taste and feel its way around in the dark water.
Reproduction
Not much is known about how the golden cave catfish reproduces. Scientists have tried to breed these fish in captivity, but so far, they have not been successful. This makes it even more important to protect their natural home.
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Clarias cavernicola para niños
