''Uegitglanis zammaranoi'' is the only
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
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 ...
(
order Siluriformes) in the
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
''Uegitglanis'' of the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Clariidae.
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 else ...
to
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐; ar, ุงูุตูู
ุงู, aแนฃ-แนขลซmฤl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
, where it only occurs
in caves near the
Jubba
Thawb ( ar, ุซูููุจ "garment"), also spelled thobe or tobe and known by various other names in different regions, is an ankle-length robe, usually with long sleeves. It is commonly worn in the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, North Afr ...
and the
Shebelle River
The Shebelle River ( so, Webi Shabeelle, ar, ููุฑ ุดุจููู, am, แฅแฐแ) begins in the highlands of Ethiopia, and then flows southeast into Somalia towards Mogadishu. Near Mogadishu, it turns sharply southwest, where it follows the coast ...
s.
This species grows to about 10.1 cm (4.0 in)
in total length.
[
''U. zammaranoi'' is hypothesized to be the sister group to '' Heteropneustes'' and the remaining clariids. The problematic relationship of this species to the rest of the family is due to the lack of a labyrinth organ that characterizes the family.]
Two other cavefish species are in Somalia: the cyprinids ''Barbopsis devecchi
The Somalian blind barb (''Barbopsis devecchi'') is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It is the only member of the genus ''Barbopsis''. This troglobitic fish is found only in Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: ๐๐ ...
'' and '' Phreatichthys andruzzii''.[Romero, A., editor (2001). ''The Biology of Hypogean Fishes.'' Developments in Environmental Biology of Fishes. ]
References
Uegitglanis
Cave fish
Fish of Somalia
Endemic fauna of Somalia
Fish described in 1923
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{catfish-stub