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Clarias
batrachus (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Image
contributors to this species: |
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ScotCat
Sources: |
 
 
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Other
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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 |
Distribution: |
Asia: Mekong and
Chao Phraya basins, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo.
Type locality: Africa, Asia. |
Size: |
60.0cm. (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 Factsheeo. 47. May 2000. |
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