Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822 [N]—North African catfish; Sfamnun matzui

Taxonomy. Original description: Silurus (Heterobranchus) gariepinus Burchell, 1822: 425, fig. on p. 445 [Vaal River, at Smidtsdrift, above confluence with Riet River, Cape Province, South Africa (28°42’10”S, 24°04’29”E); neotype: SAIAB 520; neotype evidently selected by Bruton & Teugels (1982) but first published in Skelton &Teugels (1992) (see Seegers (1996: 206)].— Israel synonyms: Clarias orontis Günther, 1864; Clarias lazera Valenciennes, 1840 .—Revisions: Teugels (1982: 442).—Illustration: Skelton & Teugels (1992: figs. 1-2).

Status in Israel. First record from Israel by Günther (1865: 490), Lortet (1883: 151) and Tristram (1884: 169) as Clarias macracanthus (non Günther, 1864), and Steinitz (1953: 214) as Clarias lazera; confirmed by Goren (1974: 92 as Clarias lazera), Goren & Ortal (1999: 4).—Israel material: HUJ.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Israel: Jordan River basin and the coastal plain.—Distribution in River Basin: 1-Western Basin, 2-Dead Sea Basin, 3-Kinneret Basin.—General distribution: Widespread in Africa, Asia Minor, and the Middle East. Widely introduced elsewhere.—Distribution in Ecoregion: 436-Coastal Levant, 438- Jordan River.—Habitat: This species is a benthopelagic (living and feeding near the bottom as well as in midwaters or near the surface), potamodromous (migratory), and freshwater fish species. Freshwater, brackish.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Conservation. Conservation Status in Israel: Unknown.—IUCN: LC (IUCN 2023).—Threats: This species is of major economic importance all over its range and it is even an important aquaculture species.—Low sensitivity to human activities.—Not considered a keystone species.—Decline status: Unknown.—Low priority for conservation action.