Eel Catfish

Diagnosis: small supraorbital process on infraorbital IV, not reaching the rostral border of the eye; fenestra between scapulo-coracoid and cleithrum absent; interdigitation between entopterygoid and quadrate (Ref. 81644).Description: body extremely elongate, abdominal depth 2.5-9.6% SL (mean 5.0); long dorsal and anal fins, continuous with caudal fin; distance between supraoccipital process and dorsal fin 4.6-20% SL (mean 9.2); pectoral fins present or absent, when present, length between 2.4-39.9% of skull length; pelvic fins absent in most cases, however, several specimens have both or a single pelvic fin, with length 15.8-30.6% skull length (mean 24.5); skull short, 4.8-17.8% SL (mean 9.7); skull roof (exposed bony part in between bulging jaw muscles) narrow, 10.7-35.3% (mean 21.6) skull length; jaw muscles hypertrophied but may or may not bulge (generally bulging in larger specimens); eyes bordered by small infraorbital bones, of which postorbital one has a plate-like outgrowth; internal mandibular barbel always shorter than skull, other barbels longer; maxillary barbel longest (55-151% HL, m = 93); eyes small, without free orbital rim (Ref. 81644).Coloration: body uniformly dark to pale brown, paler ventrally or fades from dark to pale (e.g. specimens from Congo basin); unpaired fins coloured as body, paired fins usually paler (Ref. 81644).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 105; Anal spines: 0; Analsoft rays: 118; Vertebrae: 76 - 117

Prefers forest streams and swamps, where it lurks among the roots of trees and may even capture its prey on land. Also found in rapids (Ref. 78218). Channallabes apus is an omnivore (Ref. 78218).

fisheries: ; aquarium: commercial

The eel catfish (Channallabes apus) is an airbreathing catfish found in the muddy swamps of the tropics of Central Africa. It grows up to 32.7 cm in total length (12.9 in), and is notable for its ability to propel itself out of the water to catch prey.

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.