Image source: guillaumeperon | inaturalist.org
Chrysichthys cranchii (commonly known as Kokuni) is a large African freshwater catfish belonging to the family Claroteidae. It is a demersal species, living close to the river bottom, and is adapted to tropical conditions, occurring roughly between 3°N and 10°S latitude.
This species is endemic to Africa, where it is widely distributed in large rivers of the Congo River system. It inhabits deep river channels, slow-flowing sections, and muddy substrates, where it forages along the bottom, often in turbid water with low visibility.
Chrysichthys cranchii is a robust, bottom-dwelling catfish equipped with well-developed barbels that help it locate food in murky environments. Like other members of its genus, it is primarily nocturnal and feeds on a variety of benthic organisms, including invertebrates and smaller fish.
Maximum length: up to 150 cm TL (males / unsexed individuals)
Maximum published weight: 135 kg
Due to its impressive size and weight, Chrysichthys cranchii ranks among the largest freshwater catfishes in Africa and is of significant importance to local fisheries throughout the Congo Basin.
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