Cat Fish

Lernaeid Infestation (larval Lernaeid). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Feeds actively probably around dusk and dawn (Ref. 11247). Feeds on insects, crustaceans, molluscs and fish (Ref. 28714). Juveniles of up to 5 cm feed exclusively on aquatic invertebrates (Ref. 11247). Fishes more than 18 cm TL long are predominantly piscivorous , but they include larger invertebrates in their diet until they reach ca. 50 cm TL, after which they appear to subsist wholly on fish (Ref. 34291). In the range of 15-45cm they heavily depend on fish and to a lesser degree on insects (Ref. 33614). The choice of either piscivorous or invertebrate diet depends on fish size and availibilty of food items (Ref. 11247). Diet differences have been observed in areas with different bottom hardness (Ref. 52014), but the diet is more varied over a hard bottom (Ref. 52014). Both the start of the reproductive cycle and breeding may be triggered by the rains, causing a rise in water level and a decline in conductivity (Ref. 35297). The reproduction period may be related to the water temperature (Ref. 51970). Juveniles may occur on exposed rocky shores (Ref. 34291, Ref. 12526). Can successfully withstand conditions of low oxygen tension (Ref. 52016).

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 11; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 11 - 14; Vertebrae: 46 - 49

Distinct pairing (Ref. 205).

Contracaecum Infestation 3. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Eustrongylides Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Piscicola Infestation (Piscicola sp.). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Procamallanus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Trypanosoma Infection. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Contracaecum Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Fish louse Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Eustrongylides Disease (larvae). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Fish Louse Infestation 7. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Fish Louse Infestation 6. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Acanthostomum Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Trypanosoma Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Fish Louse Infestation 5. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Quadriacanthus Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Haplorchoides Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Astiotrema Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Acanthostomum Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Dolops Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Diagnosis: head depressed (Ref. 43434), broad, about 1.3-1.6 times as long as wide (Ref. 28714, 30488, 57125), squarish when viewed from above (Ref. 28714), without rough texture (Ref. 3034). Head width measured at base of preopercle 58.9-71.8% head length; 12-16 gill rakers on first gill arch (Ref. 81641). Body slightly elongated, 5-6 times longer than deep (Ref. 7324, 57125, 81641). Four pairs of barbels (Ref. 34290). Premaxillary tooth plate 5-7 times longer than wide, a little shorter than and about as broad as the band of vomerine teeth (Ref. 2899). Premaxillary toothplate width less than 2.5 times in head length (Ref. 57125). Occipital process 3-5 times longer than wide (Ref. 57125, 81641). Predorsal length 2.4-2.7 times in standard length; 9-10 branched dorsal fin rays, not or only slightly filamentous (Ref. 57125, 81641). Long adipose dorsal fin present (Ref. 34290), narrowly separated from the dorsal fin (Ref. 51936). Standard length/caudal peduncle length 2.4-2.7 (Ref. 57125). Upper lobe of caudal fin often with a short filament (Ref. 7324, 57125, 81641).Description: head without rough texture (Ref. 3034). Snout broadly rounded, projecting beyond the lower jaw (Ref. 2988). Eye with a free border (Ref. 51936, Ref. 36901). Four pairs of circum-oral barbels, showing great variation in length, being relatively longer in smaller individuals (Ref. 34290). Maxillary barbel 1.2-3.25 times head length (Ref. 3032, Ref. 43434), reaching ventral or not quite so far in adult and reaching anal fin or caudal peduncle in juveniles (Ref. 2899). Nasal barbel 0.2-0.4 times head length (Ref. 367). External mandibular barbel 0.5-1 times head length (Ref. 3032). Internal mandibular barbel 0.36-0.64 times head length; occipital processus not reaching the interneural (Ref. 51936). Dorsal fin short with a well-developed spine (Ref. 34290). First branched fin rays of dorsal fin hardly or not filamentous (Ref. 30488, 81641), longest ray 1/3-1/4 of SL (Ref. 57125, 81641). Last ray of dorsal fin in front of inner ray of ventral fin (Ref. 4912). Dorsal spine smooth (Ref. 36900). Adipose dorsal fin 4-5x as long as deep (Ref. 43434), 1.66-2x as long as rayed dorsal (Ref. 2899). Anal fin short (Ref. 34290), 0.5-0.7x head length (Ref. 367), inserted under the last branched dorsal fin ray or just behind this (Ref. 2756). Some caudal fin rays may have filamentous extension (Ref. 34290). Upper caudal lobe comprised 3-4 times in SL (Ref. 81641). Caudal skeleton morphology described in Ref. 51975. Pectoral spine serrated along the inner side (Ref. 3032). No pectoral filaments (Ref. 367, 3036).Coloration: dark grey-black above, creamy-white below (Ref. 34290). Body sometimes shot with gold and green (Ref. 4904). Some blackish may be present on the dorsal (Ref. 11235), anal and ventral fins (Ref. 2899). Blackish dots sometimes present on the posterior part of the back and on the adipose fin (Ref. 11235). Freshly caught fish have a greenish iridescence which soon fades to a dark greyish blue (Ref. 3023). Some juveniles may be completely blackish (Ref. 7324, 57125) with the exception of the ventral surface of the body(Ref. 81641). Some other specimens with dark brown spots on flanks and on adipose and caudal fin (Ref. 81641).

Inhabit lakes, swamps and rivers (Ref. 31256). Widespread in both shallow and deep water (Ref. 34291). Probably associated with rocky bottoms/coarse substrates (Ref. 27490). Mostly active during the night and the twilight hours (Ref. 2060). Juveniles may frequent exposed rocky shores (Ref. 12526). Feed on insects, crustaceans, molluscs and fish; some debris and vegetable matter may also be ingested (Ref. 28714). Moderately important as a food species in Lake Victoria, but becoming rare with the appearance of Nile perch (Ref. 4967). Catches decreased strongly in Lake Victoria after the Lates upsurge (Ref. 34291). Predation by Lates and competition with Lates (for haplochromines) may have played a role in the decline (Ref. 34291). A notably recovery in waters between 3m and 6m depth in Lake Victoria has been reported (Ref. 51900). Second most important food species in Lake Edward, Congo (Ref. 13302).

fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes