African butter catfish
The African butter catfish (Schilbe mystus) is a species of fish in the family Schilbeidae. It is native to many major river systems in Africa. Other common names for the fish include butter fish, butter barbel, African glass catfish, lubangu, mystus catfish, silver barbel, and silver catfish. It was originally described as Silurus mystus by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Description The African butter catfish has a compressed body and an adipose fin is always present. It can grow up to TL and has reported up to a maximum weight of . It is a brownish color on the head and the dorsal surface of the fish, and silvery-white on the underside. The fins are usually colorless. The lifespan of the fish is estimated to be 6 to 7 years It is commonly found in standing or slowly flowing open water of lakes, ponds, rivers, and shallow swamps where vegetation is present. It is occasionally found in sandy or rocky streams, or shallow flood plains. It feeds from mid-water and surface waters on fish, insects, crustaceans, ostracods, snails, seeds, leaves, roots, diatoms, algae, and fruit. It has been noted to feed on the fish species Elephant snout (Hyperopisus bebe) and Nile