Bathyclarias worthingtoni
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
ACTINOPTERYGII |
SILURIFORMES |
CLARIIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Bathyclarias worthingtoni |
| Species Authority: |
Jackson, 1959 |
| Taxonomic Notes: |
Diagnostic features: smooth head covered in thick skin and with very hard skull. Banda (unpublished) proposes that this species is conspecific with Bathyclarias gigas Jackson, 1959. The type specimens for both species were examined and could not be distinguished. B. gigas was described by the suprabranchial organ based on the structure which M. Banda (unpublished) notes is not a valid key character. Banda (unpublished) also notes that B. worthingtoni was described by Jackson from an aberrant specimen with a deformity on one of its maxillary barbels causing its base to swell into an enlarged conical structure — no specimen resembling the diagram in Jackson's paper was found. Banda further notes that conical swellings at the base of the maxillary barbel (but not as in Jacksons 1959 diagram) are a common feature in fish with short gill rakers. He notes that the specimens found in the field fitted the description of B. worthingtoni except for this character. |
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Least Concern
ver 3.1
|
| Year Assessed: |
2006 |
| Assessor/s: |
Kasembe, J. |
| Reviewer/s: |
Snoeks, J. (Freshwater Fish Red List Authority) & Darwall, W. (Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment Programme) |
Justification:
Endemic to Lake Malawi. Widespread distribution with no widespread major threats identified.
|
Geographic Range
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| Range Description: |
Endemic to Lake Malawi. Widespread with records from Nkhata bay, Likoma Island and elsewhere. Also recorded in the southeastern and western arms of the lake.
|
| Countries: |
Native:
Malawi; Mozambique; Tanzania, United Republic of
|
| Range Map: |
(click map to view full version)
|
Population
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| Population: |
Reported to be numerous and widespread at Nkhata bay and Likoma Island.
|
| Population Trend: |
Unknown
|
Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
Inhabits rocky areas in shallow water (less than 50 m). It feeds mainly on crabs.
|
| Systems: |
Freshwater |
| Major Threat(s): |
Potential over-fishing in southern arms of the lake.
|
Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
None.
|
