Cave catfish | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Clariidae |
Genus: | Clarias |
Species: | C. cavernicola
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Binomial name | |
Clarias cavernicola Trewavas, 1936
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The cave catfish[2] (Clarias cavernicola)[3] is a critically endangered species of airbreathing catfish.[4] This cavefish is only known to live in the Aigamas cave, Otjozondjupa region, Namibia.[5][6] It has also been reported from the nearby Dragon's Breath Cave.[7] The golden cave catfish lack pigmentation and are up to 16.1 cm (6.3 inches) in standard length.[6] They have very small eyes that are covered with skin, and are probably effectively blind.[6] They feed on detritus and invertebrates that fall into the lake in which they live. The population is estimated at 200–400 individuals.[8] Little is known about its reproduction, and attempts to breed it in captivity have failed.[9] The population is threatened by chance events and water extraction from the cave lake, which has resulted in a drop of the water level.[4]
It is the only known cavefish in mainland Southern Africa.[10]