African butter catfish

African butter catfish
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Schilbeidae
Genus:	Schilbe
Species:	S. mystus
Binomial name
Schilbe mystus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Schilbe mystus (Linnaeus, 1758) Preferred Bagrus adansonii Valenciennes, 1840 Synonym Bagrus depressirostris Peters, 1852 Bagrus schilbeides Valenciennes, 1840 Bagrus schilbeoides Valenciennes, 1840 Bagrus schilboides Valenciennes, 1840 Eutropius adansonii Valenciennes, 1840 Eutropius altipinnis Steindachner, 1894 Eutropius congensis (non Leach, 1818) Misapplied name Eutropius depressirostris (Peters, 1852) Eutropius grenfelli (non Boulenger, 1900) Eutropius liberiensis (non Hubrecht, 1881) Eutropius mentalis (non Boulenger, 1901) Eutropius nilotica (Rüppell, 1829) Eutropius niloticus (Rüppell, 1829) Eutropius niloticus niloticus (Rüppell, 1829) Eutropius obtusirostris Günther, 1864 Eutropius sp. Not applicable Ambiguous synonym Hypophthalmus niloticus Rüppell, 1829 Scheilbe mystus (Linnaeus, 1758) Schilbe auratus Joannis, 1835 Schilbe bipinnatus Ehrenberg, 1840 Schilbe bouvieri Rochebrune, 1885 Schilbe dispela (non Günther, 1864) Schilbe dispila (non Günther, 1864) Schilbe emini Pfeffer, 1896 Schilbe hasselquistii Valenciennes, 1840 Schilbe mystus fasciata Steindachner, 1870 Schilbe mystus fasciatus Steindachner, 1870 Schilbe mystus mystus (Linnaeus, 1758) Schilbe niloticus (Rüppell, 1829) Schilbe palmeri (non Svensson, 1933) Schilbe senegalensis (non Günther, 1864) Schilbe senegallus (non Valenciennes, 1840) Schilbe steindachneri Guimaraes, 1884 Schilbe uranoscopus (non Rüppell, 1932) Scilbe mystus (Linnaeus, 1758) Silurus mystus Linnaeus, 1758

The African butter catfish (Schilbe mystus) is a species of fish in the family Schilbeidae. It is native to many major river systems in Africa. Other common names for the fish include butter fish, butter barbel, African glass catfish, lubangu, mystus catfish, silver barbel, and silver catfish. It was originally described as Silurus mystus by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.

Description

The African butter catfish has a compressed body and an adipose fin is always present. It can grow up to 40 centimetres (16 in) TL and has reported up to a maximum weight of 250 grams (8.8 oz). It is a brownish color on the head and the dorsal surface of the fish, and silvery-white on the underside. The fins are usually colorless. The lifespan of the fish is estimated to be 6 to 7 years

It is commonly found in standing or slowly flowing open water of lakes, ponds, rivers, and shallow swamps where vegetation is present. It is occasionally found in sandy or rocky streams, or shallow flood plains. It feeds from mid-water and surface waters on fish, insects, crustaceans, ostracods, snails, seeds, leaves, roots, diatoms, algae, and fruit. It has been noted to feed on the fish species Elephant snout (Hyperopisus bebe) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The species is most active at night or in subdued light. It spawns in the rainy season in September and October, by migrating into the floodwaters and tributaries of rivers and streams to spawn. It may spawn in multiple locations, depositing eggs on vegetation.

Uses

This fish is of commercial importance in many parts of Africa as an important food fish. It is also sold in the aquarium trade. In northern Africa, the fish faces threats from dams, water pollution, drought, and water depletion. Overall, the species is listed by the IUCN as Least Concern for central, northern, northeastern, and western Africa. In eastern Africa, the species is in serious decline due to overfishing and exploitation and is assessed regionally as Vulnerable.