Cape bush fish

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Cape bush fish
Sandelia capensis

Sandelia capensis

Systematics
Spinefish (Acanthopterygii)
Perch relatives (Percomorphaceae)
Order : Climbing fish species (Anabantiformes)
Subordination : Labyrinth fish (Anabantoidei)
Family : Climbing fish and bush fish (Anabantidae)
Genre : Cape bush fish
Scientific name
Sandelia
Castelnau , 1861

The Cape bush fish ( Sandelia ) are a genus of freshwater fish from the family of climbing fish and bush fish (Anabantidae). The genus occurs with two species exclusively in South Africa.

Sandelia bainsii occurs in the rivers of the Eastern Cape Provincein the Kowie River , Great Fish River , Keiskamma River and Nahoon River . The distribution area of ​​the second species, Sandelia capensis , begins in the west at Elands Bay and extends over the Western Cape to the Coega River whichflows into the oceanat Port Elizabeth . In the Olifants River it was used by humans.

features

Cape bush fish have a moderately elongated, laterally flattened body and become 20 to 26 cm long. The head and mouth are relatively large. There are two nostrils on each side of the head. The gill covers are scaled and, in contrast to those of other bush fish, the edge is smooth. The labyrinth organ is built quite simply. The dorsal and anal fins are elongated, the hard-nosed area being longer than the soft-nosed area. The pelvic fins are not elongated, the caudal fin is rounded. The sideline is interrupted, the part on the rear trunk section runs two rows of scales lower.

Cape bush fish are olive brown to yellowish in color and show dark markings. The gill cover has a stain.

Way of life

Sandelia species occur mainly in slowly flowing waters that are divided by rocks, roots or plants. They feed on insects, crustaceans, other invertebrates, and small fish. Both species reproduce in the South African summer. The adherent eggs are placed on a solid substrate, the breeding area is defended by the male.

species

Danger

The population of both species is endangered by water pollution and introduced fish species such as tilapia , sunfish and the predatory catfish Clarias gariepinus .

literature

  • Günther Sterba (Ed.), Gert Brückner: Encyclopedia of Aquaristics and Special Ichthyology. Neumann-Neudamm, Melsungen u. a. 1978, ISBN 3-7888-0252-9 .
  • Wolfgang Noack: Threatened with extinction - labyrinth fish from the black continent: Sandelia bainsii and Sandelia capensis in Der Makropode 2007/3 , online .

Web links

Commons : Cape Bushfish ( Sandelia )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files