Scientific Name
Bagrus docmak

Common Name
Semutundu

Biology
Inhabit lakes, swamps and rivers (Ref. 31256). Widespread in both shallow and deep water (Ref. 34291). Probably associated with rocky bottoms/coarse substrates (Ref. 27490). Mostly active during the night and the twilight hours (Ref. 2060). Juveniles may frequent exposed rocky shores (Ref. 12526). Feed on insects, crustaceans, mollusks and fish. Some debris and vegetable matter may also be ingested (Ref. 28714). Moderately important as a food species in Lake Victoria, but becoming rare with the appearance of Nile perch (Ref. 4967). Catches decreased strongly in Lake Victoria after the Lates upsurge (Ref. 34291). Predation by Lates and competition with Lates (for haplochromines) may have played a role in the decline (Ref. 34291). A notably recovery in waters between 3m and 6m depth in Lake Victoria has been reported (Ref. 51900). Second most important f

Classification

Classified By

Forssk?l, 1775

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Bagrid catfishes (Bagridae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: Rivers Nile, Niger, Senegal, Volta and Lake Chad basins. East African rift lakes, except Lake Kivu, where it was introduced in 1959 and 1960, apparently without success.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

21 °C

Water Temperature To

25 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

80 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; ; pH range: 6.5 - 8.2; dH range: ? - 30 benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 80 m (Ref. 34291), usually 0 - 70 m (Ref. 34291)

Trophic Level

4.08 s.e. 0.95 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

127 cm

Common Length

62.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5005 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (51 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm-2-3; tmax=5; K=0.06-0.35; Fec=2,000-774,000)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)