''Ancharius fuscus'' is a species of
catfish
Catfish (or catfishes; order Siluriformes or Nematognathi) are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species alive, ...
in the family
Anchariidae
The Anchariidae are a family of catfishes containing two genera, '' Ancharius'' and ''Gogo'' with 6 species. Anchariids are a strictly freshwater group endemic to Madagascar. Anchariids are characterized by the presence of fringed barbels and a r ...
. It is commonly referred to as the vaona but this name also refers to ''
Gogo brevibarbis''. It is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...
to
Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
where it is found in the eastern draining rivers. Its natural
habitat
In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
is
river
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater
Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. Although the ...
s. It is threatened by
habitat loss
Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...
. ''A. fuscus'' grows to about 30.0 centimetres (11.8 in)
TL.
See also
*
Ancharius (fish)
''Ancharius'', the Vaonas, is a small genus of catfishes ( order Siluriformes) of the family Anchariidae.
''Ancharius'' has been variably placed in Mochokidae, Ariidae, and Anchariidae. They are endemic to Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, ...
*
Ancharius griseus
References
Sources
*
fuscus
Freshwater fish of Madagascar
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
Fish described in 1880
{{Ariidae-stub