Schilbe mystus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

View Printer Friendly

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	SILURIFORMES	SCHILBEIDAE

Scientific Name:

Schilbe mystus

Species Authority:

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Name/s:

English

–

African Butter Catfish, African glass catfish, Butter barbel, Butter catfish, Butterfish, Butter fish, Lubangu, Mystus catfish, Silver barbel, Silver catfish

Synonym/s:

Bagrus adansonii Valenciennes, 1840

Bagrus depressirostris Peters, 1852

Bagrus schilbeides Valenciennes, 1840

Bagrus schilbeoides Valenciennes, 1840

Bagrus schilboides Valenciennes, 1840

Eutropius adansonii Valenciennes, 1840

Eutropius altipinnis Steindachner, 1894

Eutropius congensis (non Leach, 1818)

Eutropius depressirostris (Peters, 1852)

Eutropius grenfelli (non Boulenger, 1900)

Eutropius lemairii Boulenger, 1900

Eutropius liberiensis (non Hubrecht, 1881)

Eutropius mentalis (non Boulenger, 1901)

Eutropius nilotica (Rüppell, 1829)

Eutropius niloticus (Rüppell, 1829)

Eutropius niloticus niloticus (Rüppell, 1829)

Eutropius obtusirostris Günther, 1864

Eutropius sp. Not applicable

Hypophthalmus niloticus Rüppell, 1829

Schilbe auratus Joannis, 1835

Schilbe bipinnatus Ehrenberg, 1840

Schilbe bouvieri Rochebrune, 1885

Schilbe dispela (non Günther, 1864)

Schilbe dispila (non Günther, 1864)

Schilbe emini Pfeffer, 1896

Schilbe hasselquistii Valenciennes, 1840

Schilbe mystus fasciata Steindachner, 1870

Schilbe mystus fasciatus Steindachner, 1870

Schilbe niloticus (Rüppell, 1829)

Schilbe palmeri (non Svensson, 1933)

Schilbe senegalensis (non Günther, 1864)

Schilbe senegallus (non Valenciennes, 1840)

Schilbe steindachneri Guimaraes, 1884

Schilbe uranoscopus (non Rüppell, 1932)

Silurus mystus Linnaeus, 1758

Taxonomic Notes:

This species has been commonly referred to as Schilbe (Eutropius) niloticus. As indicated above, morphological examination of the holotype of Silurus mystus Linneaus, 1758 (De Vos & Skelton, 1990) indicates that that specimen and S. (E.) niloticus (Rüppell, 1829) belong to the same species. As a result the older name, S. mystus is the correct replacement name for S. niloticus. Cited by Bishai and Khalil (1997) as Schilbe (Schilbe) mytus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2010

Assessor/s:

Azeroual, A., Bousso, T., Getahun, A., Lalèyè, P., Moelants, T. & Twongo, T.

Reviewer/s:

Snoeks, J., Tweddle, D., Getahun, A., Lalèyè, P., Paugy, D., Zaiss, R., Fishar, M.R.A & Brooks, E.

Justification:
This species has a wide distribution, with no known major widespread threats. It is therefore listed as Least Concern. It has also been assessed regionally as Least Concern for central, northern, north eastern and western Africa. In eastern Africa, it is a fairly widely distributed species which is thought to be heavily exploited by the local fisheries. A decline of 30% is anticipated over the next 10 years, and it has therefore been assessed as Vulnerable (A3d).

History:

2006

–

Vulnerable (IUCN 2006)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This is a widespread species, from Senegal to Ethiopia, and Egypt to Uganda. Central Africa: In Lower Guinea, Schilbe mystus is known from the Cross Wouri and Sanaga basins. Eastern Africa: It is present in the Semliki River, Lake Albert and Albert Nile. Northern Africa: It is moderately common in whole River Nile in Egypt From Nile Delta to Lake Nasser (also known as Lake Nubia). Northeast Africa: It is found in the Baro River and Rift lakes, Ethiopia, as well as Lake Roseires on the Blue Nile. Western Africa: This species is known from Chad, Senegal, Corubal, Geba, Great Scarcies, the mano, Loffa, Moa, the St-Paul, Volta, Mono, Ouémé, Ogun, Niger, and Cross-country race (Paugy et al. 2003).
Countries:	Native: Angola; Benin; Burkina Faso; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Côte d'Ivoire; Egypt; Ethiopia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Liberia; Mali; Mauritania; Niger; Nigeria; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Togo; Uganda; Zambia Introduced: Congo
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	No information available.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Schilbe mystus is a demersal and potamodromous species. It shoals in standing or slowly flowing open water with emergent or submerged vegetation. Occasionally in sandy streams, occasionally on rocky streams, common in standing deep water, abundant in shallow swamps, and occasionally in shallow flood plains. The species adapts to running and stagnant waters. Schilbe mystus is generally more active at night or in subdued light. It feeds from mid-water and surface waters on a wide variety of foods including fish, insects, shrimps, snails, plant seeds, and fruit. It is oviparous and has a distinct pairing (Breder and Rosen 1966). Schilbe mystus migrates into the tributaries of rivers and streams during the rainy season to breed and may be either a single or multiple spawner in different localities, laying eggs on vegetation. Spawning occurs during September and October. May live up to 6-7 years (Skelton 1993).
Systems:	Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

Schilbe mystus is a demersal and potamodromous species. It shoals in standing or slowly flowing open water with emergent or submerged vegetation. Occasionally in sandy streams, occasionally on rocky streams, common in standing deep water, abundant in shallow swamps, and occasionally in shallow flood plains. The species adapts to running and stagnant waters. Schilbe mystus is generally more active at night or in subdued light. It feeds from mid-water and surface waters on a wide variety of foods including fish, insects, shrimps, snails, plant seeds, and fruit. It is oviparous and has a distinct pairing (Breder and Rosen 1966). Schilbe mystus migrates into the tributaries of rivers and streams during the rainy season to breed and may be either a single or multiple spawner in different localities, laying eggs on vegetation. Spawning occurs during September and October. May live up to 6-7 years (Skelton 1993).

Systems:

Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Schilbe mystus is an important food fish. It is also used as an aquarium fish. In eastern Africa in particular there is potential decline through overfishing and exploitation. In northern Africa, dams, water pollution (agriculture, domestic and commercial/industrial), groundwater extraction and drought pose possible threats.

Major Threat(s):

Schilbe mystus is an important food fish. It is also used as an aquarium fish. In eastern Africa in particular there is potential decline through overfishing and exploitation. In northern Africa, dams, water pollution (agriculture, domestic and commercial/industrial), groundwater extraction and drought pose possible threats.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	None known. More research is needed into this species population numbers and range, biology and ecology, habitat status and threats, as well as monitoring and potential conservation measures.

Conservation Actions:

None known. More research is needed into this species population numbers and range, biology and ecology, habitat status and threats, as well as monitoring and potential conservation measures.

Bibliography [top]

	Pan-Africa freshwater assessment references. Currently, full citations for references used in the Pan-Africa biodiversity assessments are unavailable on the Red List web site. These will be added to the site in 2011. We apologise for any inconvenience this causes. IUCN. 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2010.3). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 2 September 2010).

Pan-Africa freshwater assessment references. Currently, full citations for references used in the Pan-Africa biodiversity assessments are unavailable on the Red List web site. These will be added to the site in 2011. We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.

IUCN. 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2010.3). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 2 September 2010).

Citation:	Azeroual, A., Bousso, T., Getahun, A., Lalèyè, P., Moelants, T. & Twongo, T. 2010. Schilbe mystus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided