Lake Victoria Deepwater Catfish
CR

Lake Victoria Deepwater Catfish

Xenoclarias eupogon

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Victoria_deepwater_catfish

Overview

The Lake Victoria deepwater catfish is a species of catfish of the family Clariidae. This species is endemic to Lake Victoria, and is found in deeper areas of the lake, from 12 to 20 metres (39–66 ft). This species is threatened with extinction or may already be extinct due to predation by the introduced Nile perch as well as other recent ecological changes. This species grows to about 20 cm (7.9 in) SL.

Xenoclarias eupogon faces severe threats from habitat degradation in its limited freshwater range. Agricultural expansion and urban development have significantly reduced suitable aquatic habitats, while water pollution from agricultural runoff and industrial activities degrades remaining stream systems. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes and human disturbances.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered catfish inhabits freshwater streams and rivers in tropical regions. It typically occupies well-oxygenated flowing waters with rocky or sandy substrates, often in areas with moderate current and adequate vegetation cover.

Wetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryPolicies and regulations

Other threatened species in CLARIIDAE

VU

Clarias laeviceps

Unknown
EN

Abdulkalam's Blind Cave Catfish

Horaglanis abdulkalami

Unknown
VU

Clarias lamottei

Unknown
VU

Clariallabes teugelsi

Unknown

Threatened in Kenya

VU

Panicum pinifolium

Unknown
VU

Aidia abeidii

Unknown
EN

Black-fronted Spurfowl

Pternistis atrifrons

Declining
VU

Zanthoxylum mildbraedii

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Lake Victoria Deepwater Catfish classified as Critically Endangered?
Lake Victoria Deepwater Catfish is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Xenoclarias eupogon faces severe threats from habitat degradation in its limited freshwater range. Agricultural expansion and urban development have significantly reduced suitable aquatic habitats, while water pollution from agricultural runoff and industrial activities degrades remaining stream systems. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes and human disturbances.
Where does Lake Victoria Deepwater Catfish live?
Lake Victoria Deepwater Catfish occurs in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Lake Victoria Deepwater Catfish?
The main threats to Lake Victoria Deepwater Catfish are 9.3, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.