Clarias cavernicola

Cave catfish
Conservation status
Critically Endangered (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Clariidae
Genus:	Clarias
Species:	C. cavernicola
Binomial name
Clarias cavernicola Trevawas, 1936

The cave catfish, Clarias cavernicola, is a critically endangered species of Airbreathing catfish. They are only known to live in the Aigumas Cave, Otjozondjupa, Namibia. They appear similar to white eels, up to 16cm long. They have very small eyes, and are probably effectively blind. They feed on detritus that falls into the lake in which they live. The population is estimated at 150 individuals. Little is known about its reproduction, and attempts to breed it in captivity have failed. The population is threatened by chance events and aquifer depletion that threatens to drain the lake.

References

• Skelton (1996). Clarias cavernicola. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Critically Endangered (CR B1+2c, E v2.3)
• "Clarias cavernicola". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=681164. Retrieved 24 January 2006. 
• Fishbase article
• Image at the National Museum of Namibia
• at ARKive - Images of Life on Earth