Glass schilbid
Parailia pellucida
- Least concern
- Card rarity: Common
- Fish
Parailia pellucida, the African glass catfish, is a small, transparent species of catfish that is generally found in the lakes and rivers of West Africa. Though it closely resembles the Asian glass catfish, with the difference of a dark line running along its length and a typically cloudier body, they are not related and belong to different families. The glass-like body in both species just shows an example of convergent evolution. The African glass catfish comes from the Schilbeidae family, the genus Parailia and the species pellucida. The African glass catfish typically feeds on small insects and crustaceans, spending its feeding time near the surface. This species is known to be a schooling fish, both in the wild and in the aquarium hobby. Other than its use in the aquarium trade, it also serves as food despite its small size, as well as playing a role in various research.
Classification
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Siluriformes
- Family
- Schilbeidae
- Genus
- Parailia