The Catfishes of Africa

This book is, as far as is known, the first to present an overview of the entire African catfish group, and many of the photos illustrate the species in question for the very first time. By no means all African catfishes are known to science either, while others may be known but are as yet undescribed. In addition it has only recently become apparent what interesting behaviour is displayed by numerous catfish species; and itwas in fact aquarists who, for example, discovered the remarkable reproductive behaviour of the cuckoo catfish and mouthbrooding in several other Tanganyika catfishes.

African Catfishes are a special multifarious fish group. Since decades the Catfishes of the species Squeakers are very known and popular in the aquaristic practice. These multiple stylish patterned, bizarre fishes are cared often in Malawi- or Tanganjika-Aquariums. Now, with "The Catfishes of Africa" we are able to offer the first book, which presents all African Catfishes in a survey. Many photos show each drawn fish species the first time generally. Also, the sience does not know all African Catfishes, others are known already but they have not been supplied with scientific names. The author Dr. Lothar Seegers describes some of them for the first time and gives them valid names. A lot of Catfishes reveal a fascinating behaviour. For example the aquarians were those, who noticed the strange reproductive behaviour of the Cuckoo Catfish as spawn parasites or the snout spawn caring of several Tanganyika Squeakers. So this extensive book is not only a systematic overall view, but also it gives advices for care and spawn of the aquaristic known species. The Details about the habitats of these fishes are particularly valuable. The author, who is an enthusiastic outdoor scientist himself, gathered such a complete and impressive overall view in meticulous work. The getup of this clothbound book of the good quality specialist book of the Tetra Verlag GmbH is setting an example with its 608 pages and more than 1100 color photos, numberless draws and maps of spread. Further the hard cover book will be available in a german and in an english version.