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GENERAL ANATOMICAL OBERVATIONS UPON THE AFRICAN 

CATFISH (CLARIAS GARIEPINUS)

Gheorghe Radu BOLOGAN*, PhD Student

Abstract

In order to acquire better knowledge of the morpho- physiological features of the African Catfish there have been done dissections 
on a varios number of fish of different sex, age, weight.

Keywords: Clarias Gariepinus, anatomy, African Catfish.

Material and Method

Eleven male fish have been dissected as following:

• three male weighing150gr
• four male of 800gr
• two male of 1200gr
• two male of 500gr

Female – six weighing between 500-800gr

• three 800-1200gr 
• three 1200-2000gr

Dissection on the ventral abdominal side with observations upon the main features of the organs 

and apparatus.

Results and Debates

The anatomical and physiological features make the African Catfish suitable for an intensive 

artifical breeding on a large scale in artificial aquacultures of small capacity.

The Anatomy and Physiology of the African Catfish.

General Observations on the Anatomy of the African Catfish

On dissecting the abdominal cavity on the ventral – median side we can observe:

• About 90% of the cavity is filled with fat tissue situated in parallel longitudinal fascicle,
• Stomach, liver, duodenum bulb and the area near the intestine are situated towards the cephalic 

extremity, 

* S.C. Incavet S.R.L., Oradea, e-mail: gheorghe_bologan@yahoo.com
Cluj Veterinary Journal, 15(1)/2009, pp. 77-79



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• Excepting the liver, there is a disproportion between the weight which is very big and the reduced 

dimensions of the digestive organs (cavity, lumen, stomach, intestine),

• The oral cavity is extremly large compared its role as a digestive organ, as well as a respiratory 

organ (branchial filter),

• The bucal – oesophagus cavity is large, the oesophagian lumen larger and the stomach extremly 

small (almost having the dimension of the oesophagus; intestinal lumen is reduced),

• Has a stomach-omnivorous species,

• The liver is a soul organ with two lobes (at other fish species there more lobes),

• The pancreas has grape-shaped spread acinus,

• The intestine has a spiral first part then an even, descendent-short and reduced lumen,

• The existence of the gills and of the arborescent oragan-pseudopulmon,

• The kidneys are situated in the backhead under the pectoral fin, in a muscular chamber, strongly 

capsulated,

• Reduced heart situated under the oral cavity,

• The central nervous system includes the brain and the spinal marrow and the external nervous 

system includes nerves and two rows of ganglions situated on both sides of the backbone,

•  Pneumatic bladder (fins) heads’ end, arboral brain pan,

•  The existence of a transverse cavity situated after the fin.

Conclusions

The African Catfish-clarias gariepinus is a fish species 

that posseses a lot of anatomical and physiological features 

from which I will mention the following:

• it has a complementary breathing apparatus – pseudolung, 

which allows this type of fish to make the necessary 

exchange in order to breath even in high turbidity level 

of the water with a low oxygen level. If the oxygen 

level in the water is reduced this fish lifts itself above 

water and fills its branchial chamber with air, emerging 

underwater it can keep the air in this chamber for a long 

time,

• outside the water this fish produces a large quantity of 

mucus at skin level in order to keep it moist and breath 

through. This process allows it to survive a long period 

of time on land, 

• This omnivorous species has a rapid growing system 

and holds out various life conditions,

• It can be bred in tanks, in closed spaces with thermostat 

and water pomps keeping it under constant supervision 

and medium parameters,

• Due to its respiratory features it can be bred in large 

masses,

Anatomo- topographic aspect of organs in 
the abdomen after opening the ventral wall

1-Liver, 2-Bladder gall, 3-Stomach, 4-Pre-pyloric 
(gastro piloric) antrum of intestine, 5-Intestine 
(instestinal anse), 6-Fat tissue, 7-Anus, 8-Uro genital 
papilla



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