Clarias nigricans is a species of clariid catfish. It is only known from the Mahakam River in eastern Borneo. The eel-like catfish of this region were long assumed to belong to the widespread species Clarias nieuhofii but examination of 6 specimens purchased from a fish market in Samarinda in 1999 and preserved specimens from the same location revealed consistent and distinctive differences indicating a separate species.

Clarias nigricans
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Clariidae
Genus: Clarias
Species:
C. nigricans
Binomial name
Clarias nigricans
H. H. Ng, 2003
Clarias nigricans is located in Borneo
Samarinda
Holotype (Nov. 1999)
Samarinda
Paratypes (May. 1909)
Clarias nigricans (Borneo)

This is an elongated catfish up to 30.8 cm (12.1 inches) standard length. Compared to C. nieuhofii it has a "neck" distinctly narrower than the head, giving the head an egg-shaped appearance when viewed from above or below and the overall colour is much darker: purplish grey with much fainter white spots arranged in one row below the lateral line instead of two. It is a omnivore.

References

edit
  1. ^ Ng, H.H. (2019). "Clarias nigricans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T91226566A91226573. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T91226566A91226573.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.