Clarias
batrachus (Linnaeus, 1758)
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| Image
contributors to this species: |
| Molluscan
Pictures (2)
Wolfgang
Ros
(18)
Ilya
and Dr Daniel Pauly (1 Stamp) Frants
Lehmann (1 Stamp) |
| ScotCat
Sources: |
 
 
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| Other
Sources: |
  
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| Relevant
Information: |
Inhabits lowland streams,
swamps, ponds, ditches, rice paddies, and pools left in low spots
after rivers have been in flood. Usually confined to stagnant,
muddy water. Found in medium to large-sized rivers, flooded fields
and stagnant water bodies including sluggish flowing canals. Undertakes
lateral migrations from the Mekong mainstream, or other permanent
water bodies, to flooded areas during the flood season and returns
to the permanent water bodies at the onset of the dry season.
Can live out of water for quite sometime and move short distances
over land. Can walk and leave the water to migrate to other water
bodies using its auxiliary breathing organs. The Lao use this
fish as lap pa or ponne pa. Feeds on insect larvae, earthworms,
shells, shrimps, small fish, aquatic plants and debris. An important
food fish that is marketed live, fresh and frozen. Recently rare,
due to replacing of introduced African walking catfish. It
received its common name of the 'Walking Catfish' on its ability
to walk overland from pond to pond when their original habitat
dries up or after a heavy rainfall. They possess a much reduced
air-bladder and their gills are stiffened to prevent their collapse
when out of water and in a special part of the gill chamber are
spongy arborecent (tree-like) organs growing from the upper ends
of the gill arches. These and the skin surrounding them, are well
supplied with blood vessels and operate efficiently in water lacking
in oxygen or when the fish is out of water. They of course keep
their gills closed when out of water and as long as their body
is kept moist they can stay on land for a considerable length
of time. |
| Common
Name: |
Walking
Catfish |
| Synonyms: |
Silurus batrachus,
Clarias magur, C. punctatus, Macropteronotus batrachus, Macropteronotus
magur. |
| Family: |
Clariidae
blycipitidae |
| Distribution: |
Asia:
Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java,
Borneo. Type locality: Africa, Asia. |
| Size:
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60cm.
(24ins) |
| Temp: |
20-25°C
(68-77°F) |
| p.H. |
6.0-7.5. |
| Reference: |
Froese, R. and
D. Pauly. Editors. 2009.FishBase. World Wide Web electronic
publication. www.fishbase.org, version (10/2009).
ScotCat Factsheet no. 47. May 2000. |
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