Taxonomy & naming
Described by Albert Gunther in 1864 as Platyglanis platychir, and later moved to Amphilius, hence the parentheses. The type locality is Sierra Leone. It is a valid species in the Catalog of Fishes. The epithet is Greek: platys (flat) and cheir (hand), a reference to the broad pectoral fins.
Morphology
Amphilius are slender, elongate, scaleless catfishes with broad, horizontal pectoral and pelvic fins that act as suction-assisted holdfasts. FishBase gives a maximum of 4.5 in TL.
Habitat
A West African rapids species. The type locality is in Sierra Leone, and loach catfishes of this genus are typically found in fast, clear, well-oxygenated streams over rock and gravel.
Feeding
A nocturnal benthic insectivore, taking insect larvae from the stones. No species-specific data are available to the atlas.
Mating
Mating behaviour is not documented for Amphilius platychir in the sources available to the atlas. Sexes cannot be separated reliably from the information available.
Breeding
No spawning or breeding record is known to the atlas.
In the aquarium
Hard to maintain: it needs cool-to-moderate, strongly oxygenated, flowing water and rock cover, plus live or frozen insect foods. It is rarely available.
Conservation
The IUCN Red List assessed Amphilius platychir as Least Concern in 2019. Hillstream fishes are sensitive to siltation, damming and altered flow.