Kampoyo
(Bagrus meridionalis)

Classification

Species: Bagrus meridionalis

General data

Scientific names: Kampoyo
Habitat: Freshwater
Climates: Tropical, Arid (desert)
Native: Africa
Distribution: Lake Malawi, Zambezi

The kampango or kampoyo (Bagrus meridionalis) is a critically endangered species of large and predatory bagrid catfish that is endemic to Lake Malawi, Lake Malombe and the upper Shire River in Africa. It prefers areas near rocks in water shallower than 50 m (160 ft), but it also occurs deeper (not beyond the oxygen limit) and over a sandy or muddy bottom.

The kampango is among the largest fish in the Lake Malawi basin, reaching up to about 1 m (3.3 ft) long, or possibly even 1.5 m (4.9 ft). Max. published weight is 9.5 kg.

A common length is around 40-50 cm (1.5 ft) and females are typically larger than males.

Adults are overall blackish, while young are grey with dark spots. During the day kampangos hide in caves, but around dusk or dawn they hunt and eat their prey, primarily cichlids.

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