Eel catfish
Encyclopedia
The eel catfish, Channallabes apus, is an airbreathing catfish
found in the muddy swamps of the tropics of western Africa
. The fish is 30 - 40 cm long and is notable for the ability to propel itself out of the water to catch prey. This species was formerly thought to be the sole member of its genus but recently three additional species have been described. It was first identified in 1956, then again in 1974 by Heiko Bleher.
The thin eel-shaped body of C. apus is black or dark brown, with widely spaced spines. A suprabranchial organ, formed by tree-like structures from the second and fourth gill arches, allows the eel catfish to take in oxygen directly from the air for short periods. Its eyes are small and hidden, and it lacks pectoral fins entirely. Like many anguilliform clariids, its jaw muscles are hypertrophic
, a modification that has been linked to increased bite force.
The eel catfish hunts both in and out of the water, having a different method for each. In water, C. apus sucks water and food into its mouth. To catch food on land, the eel catfish lifts the front of its body up, and bends its mouth down on the prey. Its specially adapted spine allows it to do so without weight-bearing pectoral fins.
Airbreathing catfish
Airbreathing catfishes are fishes comprising the family Clariidae of order Siluriformes. There are about 14 genera and 100 species of clariids...
found in the muddy swamps of the tropics of western Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
. The fish is 30 - 40 cm long and is notable for the ability to propel itself out of the water to catch prey. This species was formerly thought to be the sole member of its genus but recently three additional species have been described. It was first identified in 1956, then again in 1974 by Heiko Bleher.
The thin eel-shaped body of C. apus is black or dark brown, with widely spaced spines. A suprabranchial organ, formed by tree-like structures from the second and fourth gill arches, allows the eel catfish to take in oxygen directly from the air for short periods. Its eyes are small and hidden, and it lacks pectoral fins entirely. Like many anguilliform clariids, its jaw muscles are hypertrophic
Hypertrophy
Hypertrophy is the increase in the volume of an organ or tissue due to the enlargement of its component cells. It should be distinguished from hyperplasia, in which the cells remain approximately the same size but increase in number...
, a modification that has been linked to increased bite force.
The eel catfish hunts both in and out of the water, having a different method for each. In water, C. apus sucks water and food into its mouth. To catch food on land, the eel catfish lifts the front of its body up, and bends its mouth down on the prey. Its specially adapted spine allows it to do so without weight-bearing pectoral fins.