African Catfish

The Kwando River system is generally construed to consist of the upper Kwando originating in the Angolan headwaters, the middle reach Linyanti swamps and the lower reach Chobe River. The 170 centimeter (cm) in length north African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) is the largest benthopelagic species native to the Kwando River system. Ion concentrations jgenerally in the rapid flowing river mainstem tends to be low in ionic content; however, swampy areas often contain higher concentrations of nitrate and other ionic components. Correspondingly, planktonic content is only appreciable at these slackwater portions of the river, notably in the Linyanti Swamp. The Kwando waters generally exhibit a lower pH level than the neighboring Okavango River, but have a slightly higher sulfate concentration. The 61 cm three spotted tilapia (Oreochromis andersonii) is another notably large benthopelagic species occurring in the Kwando waters. The 15 cm long benthopelagic thicklipped happy (Thoracochromis albolabris) is the only endemic fish recorded in the Kwando river basin.