{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | name = Giraffe catfish | image = Auchenoglanis occidentalis 01 by Line1.JPG | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name = IUCN>{{cite web |url= https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/181755/134765246 |title= Auchenoglanis occidentalis |vauthors= Lalèyè P, Azeroual A, Entsua-Mensah M, Getahun A, Hanssens M, Moelants T |date= April 30, 2019 |website= IUCN Red List |access-date= 2024-09-14}} </ref> | taxon = Auchenoglanis occidentalis | authority = (Valenciennes, 1840) | synonyms = *''Auchenoglanis scutatus'', <small>Schmitz, 1912</small><ref name="FB"/>
*''Auchenoglanis vittatus'', <small>Mokelo, 1978</small>
*''Pimelodus occidentalis'', <small>Valenciennes, 1840</small>
*''Auchenaspis occidentalis'', <small>(Valenciennes, 1840)</small>
*''Auchenoglanis biscutatus occidentalis'', <small>(Valenciennes, 1840)</small>
*''Auchenoglanis occidentalis occidentalis'', <small>(Valenciennes, 1840)</small>
*''Auchenoglannis occidentalis'', <small>(Valenciennes, 1840)</small>
*''Oxyglanis sacchii'', <small>Vinciguerra, 1898</small>
*''Auchenoglanis occidentalis tanganicanus'', <small>Boulenger, 1906</small>
*''Auchenoglanis occidentalis tchadiensis'', <small>Pellegrin, 1909</small>
*''Auchenoglanis occidentalis tchadensis'', <small>Pellegrin, 1909</small>
*''Auchenoglanis tchadensis'', <small>Pellegrin, 1909</small>
*''Auchenoglanis acuticeps'', <small>Pappenheim, 1914</small>
*''Auchenoglanis wittei'', <small>Giltay, 1930</small>
*''Auchenoglanis occidentalis tanganyikanus'', <small>Jayaram, 1966</small> }} The '''giraffe catfish''', or '''bubu''' (''Auchenoglanis occidentalis''), is a species of catfish found in Africa. It eats plants off the floor of lakes and streams. The diet of giraffe catfish is very dependent upon their environment. They keep an omnivorous diet but mainly eat insects present in the waters. <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Abobi |first1=S.M. |last2=Oyiadzo |first2=J.W. |last3=Wolff |first3=M. |title=Comparing feeding niche, growth characteristics and exploitation level of the giraffe catfish Auchenoglanis occidentalis (Valenciennes, 1775) in the two largest artificial lakes of northern Ghana |journal=African Journal of Aquatic Science |date=17 Oct 2019 |volume=44 |issue=3 |pages=261–272 |doi=10.2989/16085914.2019.1628704 |bibcode=2019AfJAS..44..261A |doi-access=free }}</ref>
==Distribution and habitat== The giraffe catfish is found throughout Africa in lakes and rivers, partially due to introduction and establishment in other areas.<ref name="PC">[http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=81 PlanetCatfish • Catfish of the Month • October 1999<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It is found in many important lakes and rivers such as the Nile and Lake Chad. Its distribution includes bodies of water from East Africa to West Africa. It generally lives in shallow waters with muddy bottoms.<ref name="FB">{{cite web|author=|title=Auchenoglanis occidentalis|publisher=FishBase|accessdate=1 March 2007|url=http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=2438&genusname=Auchenoglanis&speciesname=occidentalis}}</ref>
==Anatomy and appearance== This fish has a maximum size that sources say is between two and three feet.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}
The giraffe-like pattern will fade with age to a two-tone mottled brown. Various subspecies have been described for this fish, indicating some geographical color variation.<ref name="PC" />
==Reproduction== Eggs are scattered in a nest and guarded by the male. ''Dinotopterus cunningtoni'' takes advantage of the care and allows the male giraffe catfish to care for its eggs and young, an example of interspecific brood care.<ref name="FB" />
==Relationship to humans== The giraffe catfish is occasionally imported for the aquarium trade. Because of its large eventual size and its fast rate of growth, it is inappropriate for smaller aquaria. This fish will readily accept a variety of foods and is tolerant of a wide variety of water conditions. They will scavenge the aquarium looking for food, which could cause the uprooting of plants.<ref name="PC" />
This fish is also an important food fish in Africa.<ref name="PC" />
==References== <references/> *Risch, L.M., 2003. Claroteidae. p. 60–96 In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douce et saumâtres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, Tome 2. Coll. Faune et Flore tropicales 40. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgique, Museum National d'Histoire Naturalle, Paris, France and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris, France. 815 p.
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Category:Claroteidae Category:Catfish of Africa Category:Fish described in 1840 Category:Taxa named by Achille Valenciennes