Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Siluriformes
(Catfish) > Schilbeidae
Etymology: congica: Referring to the origin of the type material of this species, the Congo Basin (Ref. 43912). More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 6.5 - 7.4; dH range: ? - 18. Tropical; 23°C - 26°C (Ref. 2060)
Africa: throughout the Congo River basin, from the Ubangi in the north southwards to at least Lake Upemba; records from the Niger (delta) or West Africa are based on misidentifications (Ref. 43912, 78218).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 9.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 43912)
Morphology | Morphometrics
Schooling species, confined to larger rivers; most active during the night (Ref. 43912). Feed mainly on aquatic and small terrestrial insects (Ref. 6868), insect larvae and small worms (Ref. 43912). Oviparous, eggs are unguarded (Ref. 205). Maximum reported TL 100 mm (Ref. 43912). Of very little economic importance; occasionally this species has been exported for aquarist purposes (Ref. 43912).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairing (Ref. 205).
De Vos, L., 1986. Schilbeidae. p. 36-53. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 3570)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 120744)
CITES (Ref. 118484)
Threat to humans
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805
= 0.5312 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00562 (0.00252 - 0.01256), b=3.02 (2.82 - 3.22), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245
Trophic Level (Ref. 69278
): 3.2 ±0.40 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref. 120179
): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref. 59153
): Low vulnerability (17 of 100) .