Clarias

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Clarias Fossil range: Lower Pliocene - Recent
Walking catfish, Clarias batrachus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes Family: Clariidae Genus: Clarias Scopoli, 1777
Species
Many, see text.
Synonyms
Chlarias Scopoli, 1777 Macropteronotus La Cepède, 1803 Clarias Cuvier, 1816 Cossyphus M’Clelland, 1844 Phagorus M’Clelland, 1844 Dinotopteroides Fowler, 1930 Prophagorus Smith, 1939 Anguilloclarias Teugels, 1982 Brevicephaloides Teugels, 1982 Clarioides Teugels, 1982 Platycephaloides Teugels, 1982

Clarias is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Clariidae, the airbreathing catfishes. The name is derived from the Greek chlaros, which means lively, in reference to the ability of the fish to live for a long time out of water.^[1]

Contents 1 Distribution 2 Description 3 Relationship to humans 4 Species 5 Invasiva species 6 References

[edit] Distribution

They are found in inland waters throughout much of the Old World, and is one of the most widespread catfish genera in the world.^[2][3] The genus is found in Southeast Asia and East Asia westwards through India and the Asia Minor to Africa.^[4] The diversity of these catfishes is highest in Africa.^[5] Some (notably the Walking catfish) have become pest species where they have been accidentally introduced.

[edit] Description

Clarias species are recognized by their long-based dorsal and anal fins, which give them a rather eel-like appearance. These fish have slender bodies, a flat bony head, and a broad, terminal mouth with four pairs of barbels. They also have a large, accessory breathing organ composed of modified gill arches.^[2][4] Also, only the pectoral fins have spines.^[6]

[edit] Relationship to humans

Many of the species are of great economic importance in both fisheries and fish culture.^[5]

[edit] Species

Species according to Ferraris, 2007.^[7]

Clarias agboyiensis Clarias albopunctatus Clarias alluaudi Alluaud's catfish Clarias anfractus Clarias angolensis Clarias anguillaris Mudfish Clarias batrachus Walking catfish Clarias batu[4] Clarias brachysoma Clarias buettikoferi Clarias buthupogon Clarias camerunensis Clarias cataractus Clarias cavernicola Cave catfish Clarias dayi Clarias dhonti Clarias dialonensis Clarias dumerilii Clarias dussumieri Clarias ebriensis Clarias engelseni Clarias falconeri † Clarias fuscus Clarias gabonensis Clarias gariepinus Clarias hilli Clarias insolitus[2] Clarias intermedius[5] Clarias jaensis

Clarias kapuasensis Clarias laeviceps Clarias lamottei Clarias leiacanthus Clarias liocephalus Smoothhead catfish Clarias longior Clarias maclareni Clarias macrocephalus Broadhead catfish Clarias macromystax Clarias meladerma Blackskin catfish Clarias microstomus[3] Clarias ngamensis Blunt-toothed African catfish Clarias nieuhofii Clarias nigricans[8] Clarias nigromarmoratus Clarias olivaceus Clarias pachynema Clarias planiceps Clarias platycephalus Clarias pseudoleiacanthus Clarias pseudonieuhofii[6] Clarias salae Clarias stappersii Blotched catfish Clarias submarginatus Clarias sulcatus Clarias teijsmanni Clarias theodorae Snake catfish Clarias werneri

[edit] Invasiva species

Clarias catfish and primarely Clarias batrachus (walking catfish) has been introduced to many different areas of the world where they are causing problems for the native wildlife. The effect of introduction of clarias catfish varies from area to area but as they are predatory fish they often impact the local wildlife by eating other fish, birds and amphibians. In Florida the fish is causing problems by invading aquaculture farms and prey on the fish cultivated there^[9]. Countries where one or several Clarias species have been introduced includes Indonesia, USA, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, UK, Papua New Guinea, Guam, Taiwan, Thailand.

[edit] References