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Arius jatius (Hamilton, 1822)

Image contributors to this species:

Johnny Jensen's Photographic Library (1) Andrew Rao (4)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Marceniuk et al (2007) placed this species in the genus, Arius, due to the moderate size of its adipose fin and the lateral line bifurcated at the caudal region, although it did not have the accessory tooth plates which places it in this genus. Description: Three pairs of barbels, the maxillary barbels shorter than head. No teeth on plate. Strong dorsal spine, as long as head without snout. Pectoral spines as long as the dorsal spine. Habitat: It is found in the rivers and estuaries of South Asia. Colouration: Body bluish dark superiorly and lighter below with yellowish fins. Lower caudal lobe tinted gray with a dark spot on adipose fin. Etymology: The specific name jatius: latinisation of Jat from Jat gagora, local Bengali name for this catfish in India [a noun in apposition, often incorrectly spelled jatia]. Remarks: Some online searches still have this species listed as Cephalocassis jatia.

Common Name:

River catfish

Synonyms:

Pimelodus jatius, Hemipimelodus jatius, Cephalocassis jatia

Family:

Ariidae

Distribution:

South and southeast Asia: India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Type locality: Estuaries of Bengal.

Size:

30.0cm. (12ins)

Temp:

12-26°c (61 -79°f)

p.H.

7.0-8.5.

Reference:

Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Marceniuk, Alexandre P.; Menezes, Naércio A. (2007). "Systematics of the family Ariidae (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes), with a redefinition of the genera" Zootaxa 1416: 1–126.
Misra, K.S.; An aid to the Identification of the Common Commercial Fishes of India and Pakistan. 2003, Narendra Publishing House, Delhi, (India).
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

Family: Ariidae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Arius jatius

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