H. Jousse and W. Van Neer (2009)
Palaeoecology of the Giant Catfish (Arius gigas, Ariidae) in Holocene Saharan and tropical West African waters
Palaeoecology of Africa and the surrounding islands, 29:159-177.
The Giant Catfish Arius gigas is an endemic species of West African freshwaters
that is almost extinct today, and its way of life is poorly known to ichthyologists. However, this
species is known from the Holocene archaeofaunal record, in particular from the Niger basin. The
skeletal anatomy of the Giant Catfish described in this paper should facilitate its future identification
within palaeo-ichthyological assemblages. In addition, the species’ occurrence is studied from a
palaeogeographical and palaeoecological point of view. A. gigas certainly has ecological requirements
similar to the related large carnivorous fish inhabiting well oxygenated waters, and would not tolerate
shallow, muddy and stagnant ecotopes of marginal waterways. By over fishing such a large species,
humans contribute to the lowering of its reproduction potential, and to its recent drastic decline.
Peer Review, International Redaction Board
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