Author: (Norman, 1928)
FBname: Lake Victoria deepwater catfish
Remark: <i>Xenoclarias holobranchus</i> Greenwood, 1958 is considered valid in Eschmeyer (CofF ver. Jul. 2011: Ref. 87661) following Ferraris (2007: Ref. 58032).  It is treated here a synonym of <i>Xenoclarias eupogon</i> (Norman, 1928) following Gee (1975: Ref. 104726) and Teugels (1986: Ref. 3820).
Comments: Absence of suprabranchial respiratory organs and reduction of suprabranchial chamber as adaptation to deep-water habitat (Ref. 104723, 104726). Inhabits deeper areas of Lake Victoria (10 to 79 m); mostly found over muddy bottoms, not far from steep, rocky zones where it is believed to breed; sexual maturity is reached at ca. 11 cm SL (Ref. 104726). Entirely insectivorous, with preference of Chironomidae over Chaoboridae larvae (Ref. 1047726), but fish remains have also been found (Ref. 78218).  
  <i>Xenoclarias eupogon</i> is an endemic species of Lake Victoria which is threatened with extinction or has already disappeared due to predation by Nile perch and other recent ecological impacts (Ref. 35948).