Fish

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Tropical Fish in Ghana

Ghana covers an area of approximately 238.500 sq.km inundated by river systems. The drainage of the river systems is basically determined by the Kwahu Plateau. Rivers which originate from the eastern side of the plateau drain into the Atlantic through the Volta river. Rivers originating from the west side of the plateau drain into the Atlantic individually. The most important natural lake in Ghana is the Lake Bosomtwe as it is self contained with many small rivers and streams keeping the water fresh constantly. The Volta Basin is made up of the rivers Oti, Pra, White Volta, Black Volta and Asukawkaw. The Pra Basin is mainly formed by the Pra, Offin and Birim. Other rivers like the Tano, Bia, Ankobra and Densu flow into the Atlantic individually. Along the coast line there are many lagoons and estuaries building an ecosystem of its own. All these water bodies big or small are full of fish. Most of the larger species are economically used for food but the smaller ones have aquarium value. We have tried to list the ones which have been found and documented till now but there are probably hundreds more which have not been found yet.

The following map of fish found in Ghana was put together by Mr. Helmut Stallknecht and Dr. Jan Robel on their tours through Ghana with African Nature Tours in search of Aquarium Fish both already documented and new found as well.

1. Valleys along the road from Princess Town to - April 2000
Epiplatys Chaperi in various Species
Aplocheilichthys Spilauchen
Barbus Ablabes
Chromidotilapia Guentheri
Various Young Fish of the Gruendel Species - not identified

2. Amisa and Kakum Rivers along the road to Kumasi - April 2000 & 2002
Epiplatys Chaperi Schreiberi - violett
Barbus Ablabes
Various Young Fish of the Species Hemichromis & Tilapia - not identified

3. Birim near Kibi - April 2000 & October 2002
Aplocheilichthys Normani
Aplocheilichthys Schiotzi
Micralestes Sp. ( Young Fish not identified )
Barbus Ablabes
Barbus Trisilos
Amphilius Atesvensis

4. Volta Lake near Kpong - April 2000 & October 2003
Ctenopoma Kingsleyae
Aplocheilichthys Normani
Epiplatys Bifasciatus
Barbus species - not indetified
Nannaethiops ( Neolebias ) Unifasciatus
Hemichromis Bifasciatus "Akosombo"
Hemichromis Fasciatus
Various Tilapia Species
Hydrocynus Forskalii
Gymnarchus Niloticus
Mormyrops

5. Mole Tributaries - Mole National Park - April 2002
Epiplatys Bifasciatus

6. Coastal Basins west of the road to Yeji - April 2002
Epiplatys Bifasciatus
Epiplatys Spilargyraeus

7. Mountain Stream near Ho - October 2002
Epiplatys Togolensis

8.Lagoon near Ada - April 2002
Aplocheilichthys Spilauchen
Sarotherodon Melanotheron
Various Tilapia Young Fish- not identified
Various Grundel Young Fish - not identified

9. Lagoon below the Biriwa Beach Hotel
Sarotherodon Melanotheron
Various Tilapia Young Fish - not identified

10. Densu Tributary west of Koforidua towards Suhum - October 2002
Epiplatys - species not identified

11. North East of Sogakofe - Akatsi - April & October 2002
Fundulosoma Thierryi
Barbus sp. - Young Fish not identified
Hemichromis Fasciatus
Hemichromis Bimaculatus

The following is a complete list of all known and documented Fish in Ghana.

Latin Name	Common Name	Species	Known Distribution


Protopteridae	African Lung Fish	Protopterus Annectens	Volta Basin

Polypteridae	Bichirs	Polypterus Senegalus Polypterus Endlicheri	Volta & Pra Basins Volta & Pra Basins

Clupeidae	Freshwater Herring	Sierrathrissa Leonensis Odaxothrissa Mento Pellonula Leonensis	Lower Volta Pra Basin Tano, Densu Basin

Osteoglossidae	Bony Tongues	Heterotis Niloticus	Volta Basin

Notopteridae	Knife Fish or Feather Backs	Papyrocranus Afer	Tano, Pra, Offin, Birim Rivers

Mormyridae	Elephant Nose Fish	Mormyrus Rume Mormyrus Macrophthalmus Mormyrus Hasselquistii Marcusenius Ussheri Marcusenius Senegalesis Marcusenius Abadii Hippopotamyrus Psittacus Hippopotamyrus Pictus Mormyrops Breviceps Mormyrops Anguilloides Brienomyrus Niger Brienomyrus Brachyistius Petrocephalus Soudanensis Petrocephalus Bane Petrocephalus Bovei Pollimyrus Isidori	Volta Basin Volta Basin,Tano & Bia Rivers Volta Basin Tano, Bia & Pra Basins Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta System Volta System Volta & Pra Basin Volta Basin & Bia System Volta Basin Bia & Densu Basins Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta, Pra, Tano & Bia Basins Volta Basin

Gymnarchidae	Frank Fish	Gymnarchus Niloticus	Volta Basin

Hepsetidae	African Pike	Hepsetus Odoe	Most River Basins of Ghana

Characidae	Characins	Hydrocynus Brevis Hydrocynus Forskalii Alestes Baremoze Alestes Dentex Brycinus Leuciscus Brycinus Longipinnis Brycinus Nurse Brycinus Imberi Brycinus Brevis Brycinus Macrolepidotus Micralestes Pabrensis Micralestes Occidentalis Micralestes Elongatus Rhabdalestes Septentrionalis Lepidarchus Adonis	Volta Basin Volta & Pra Basins Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Small Coastal Basins Volta & Small Coastal Basins Small Coastal Basins Pra & Volta Basins Volta Basin Volta Basin & Pra River Volta & Small Coastal Basins Volta Basin Volta & Pra Basins Volta & Pra Basins

Distichodontidae	Distichodonts	Distichodus Engycephalus Distichodus Rostratus Distichodus Brevipinnis Paradistichodus Dimidiatus Nannocharax Ansorgii Nannocharax Fasciatus Neolebias Unifasciatus	Volta Basin Volta, Tano & Bia Basins Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta & Pra Basins Volta & Pra Basins, Tano & Bia Rivers Volta, Pra, Tano & Bia Basins

Citharinidae	Moonfish	Citharinus Eburneensis Citharinus Citharus Citharinops Distichodoides	Volta Basin Bia Basin Volta Basin

Cyprinidae	African Carps or Minnows	Leptocypris Niloticus Raiamas Senegalensis Raiamas Nigeriensis Leptocypris Niloticus Labeo Parvus Labeo Coubie Labeo Senegalensis Barbus Bynni Occidentalis Barbus Bynni Waldroni Barbus Wurtzi Barbus Hypsolepsis Barbus Leonensis Barbus Trispilos Barbus Walkeri Barbus Sublineatus Barbus Macrops Barbus Callipterus Barbus Subinensis Barbus Parablabes Barbus Ablabes Barbus Bawkuensis Barbus Punctitaeniatus	Volta Basin Volta Basin, Pra, Tano & Bia Rivers Pra River Volta Basin Volta, Bia, Tano & Pra Basins Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Pra, Tano & Bia Basins Pra, Tano & Bia Basins Volta Basin Volta Basin Bia, Tano & Pra Basins Pra, Tano Basins & Ankobra River Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin All Basins Volta Basin Volta Basin

Schilbeidae	Butter Fishes	Parailia Pellucida Siluranodon Auritus Irvinea Voltae Schilbe Mystus Schilbe Micropogon Schilbe Intermedius Scilbe Mandibularis	Volta,Tano Basin Volta Basin Lower Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta,Bia,Tano, Pra Basins Bia, Tano Pra Basins

Amphiliidae	Loach Catfish	Amphilius Atesuensis Phractura Clauseni	Volta Basin Volta Basin

Bagridae	Bagrids	Bagrus Docmak Bagrus Bajad	Volta System Volta System

Claroteidae	Claroteids	Clarotes Laticeps Chrysichthys Walkeri Chrysichthys Maurus Chrysichthys Auratus Chrysichthys Johnelsi Chrysichthys Nigrodigitatus Auchenoglanis Occidentalis	Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Bia & Tano Basins Occurs in all Basins Volta System

Clariidae	Mudfish - Walking Catfish	Heterobranchus Bidorsalis Heterobranchus Longifilis Heterobranchus Isopterus Clarias Gariepinus Clarias Anguillaris Clarias Laeviceps Clarias Camerunensis Clarias Agboyiensis Clarias Ebriensis	Volta Basin Volta, Pra, Bia Basins & Ankobra River Volta and all Coastal Basins Volta System Most Rivers in Ghana Bia, Tano & Pra Rivers Volta Basin Volta & Pra Basins Bia, Tano & Volta Basins

Malapteruridae	Electric Catfish	Malapterurus Electricus	Bia, Volta, Tano & Pra Basins

Mochokidae	Squeaker Catfish	Chiloglanis Voltae Chiloglanis Occidentalis Synodontis Membranaceus Synodontis Clarias Synodontis Sorex Synodontis Violaceus Synodontis Macrophthalmus Synodontis Filamentosus Synodontis Eupterus Synodontis Velifer Synodontis Nigrita Synodontis Ocellifer Synodontis Arnoulti Synodontis Bastiani Synodontis Schall	Volta Basin Volta & Pra Basins Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Volta Basin Bia Basin Bia, Tano, Pra & Volta Basins

Cyprinodontidae	The Annuals	Aphyosemion Walkeri Spurelli Aphyosemion Petersii Fundulosoma Thierryi Pronothobranchius Kiyawensis Aplocheilichthys Spilauchen Aplocheilichthys Normani Aplocheilichthys Pfaffi Aplocheilichthys Rancurelli Aplocheilichthys Schioetzi Epiplatys Dageti Dageti Epiplatys Chaperi Chaperi Epiplatys Chaperi Sheljuzhkoi Epyplatys Taeniatus Pfaff Epyplatys Sexfasciatus Togolensis	Forested Areas & Tano River Small Coastal River & South Western Ghana Tributaries of the Upper Volta Upper Volta & Accra All Coastal Basins Upper Volta, Bia & Tano Rivers Upper Volta Bia & Tano Rivers Forested Areas of Central Ghana & the Coastal Regions Marshes & Small Streams of the South - West Coastal Regions of the Bia and Pra Basins Tano Basin Upper Volta Coastal Areas Near the Togo Border

Channidae	Snake Head	Parachanna Obscura	Most Water bodies in Ghana

Centropomidae	Nile Perch	Lates Niloticus	Volta Basin

Cichlidae	Bream or Mango Fish	Steatocranus Irvinea Tylochromis Jentinki Tylochromis Intermedius Limbochromis Robertsi Chromidotilapia Guntheri Hemichromis Fasciatus Hemichromis Bimaculatus Thysochromis Ansorgii Tilapia Busumana Tilapia Dageti Tilapia Zillii Tilapia Guineensis Tilapia Discolor Tilapia Mariae Sarotherodon Melanotheron Sarotherodon Galilaeus Multifasciatus Oreochromis Niloticus	Volta Basin Tano River Tano River Upper Pra Basin All Ghanaian Basins All Ghanaian Basins All Ghanaian Basins Tano River Tano, Bia & Pra Basins & Lake Bosomtwe Volta Basin Most Water bodies in Ghana Lower reaches of most Basins Bia, Tano & Pra Basins & Lake Bosomtwe Lower Coastal Basins Bia, Tano, Pra, Volta, Ankobra & smaller Coastal Basins Bia, Tano, Densu, Ankobra & Pra Basins Bia, Tano & Pra Rivers

Anabantidae	Climbing Perch	Ctenopoma Petherici	Volta, Tano & Bia Basins

Eleotridae	Eleotrids	Kribia Nana Kribia Kribensis Dormitor Lebretonis Eleotris Vittata Eleotris Daganensis	Upper reaches of the Volta Bia River Lower Volta & Coastal Areas Lower Volta System Lower Volta System

Gobiidae	Gobies	Nematogobius Maindroni Chonophorus Lateristriga	Lower Pra & Coastal rivers Lower Coastal Basins

Mastacembelidae	Spiny Eels	Aethiomastacembelus Praensis Aethiomastacembelus Nigromarginatus	Pra & Bia Basins All Coastal Basins

Tetraodontidae	Puffers	Tetraodon Lineatus	Volta Basin

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