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Encheloclarias curtisoma Ng & Lim, 1993

Image contributors to this species:

Lavoué S. et al 2024 (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Abstract: Encheloclarias is hypothesised to be the sister group of all other clariids, except Horaglanis Menon, 1951. The inferred position of Encheloclarias confirms that the adipose fin in this genus has an evolutionary origin independent to that of the adipose fin found in some African clariids. Encheloclarias is not only ecologically remarkable, being adapted to acidic peat swamps in Southeast Asia, but it is also an ancient lineage sheltering in these habitats. However, the precise timing of the colonisation of peat swamps by Encheloclarias remains to be investigated (Lavoué S. et al 2024). Habitat: Occurs in a stream about 3 m wide and half a meter deep in a peat swamp forest. The stream has a soft and peaty substrate, covered with large pieces of wood and submerged branches. Etymology: The genus name Encheloclarius: énchelys (Greek), eel, i.e., an eel-like Clarias, referring to the shape of E. tapeinopterus. The specific name curtisoma: curtus (L.), short; sôma (Greek), body, referring to the relatively short appearance compared with the more elongate E. tapeinopterus. Remarks: The species is assessed as Endangered based on a maximum extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1,125 km2. It is only known from a one to five locations based on the threat of land conversion to oil palm plantations, and the habitat it is found in may be severely fragmented by this threat. Continuing declines in its distribution and habitat quality is expected to continue without intervention (IUCN 2019).

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Clariidae

Distribution:

Southeast Asia: Peninsular Malaysia. Type locality: Peninsular Malaysia: Selangor, north Selangor peat swamp forest, blackwater stream at 39 km milestone on road to Tanjong Malim from Sungei Basar.

Size:

8.0cm. (3¼ins)

Temp:

22-25°C (71-77°F)

p.H.

6.5-7.5.

Reference:

Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Fish in the News 2024.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2024. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 06/2024 )
Lavoué S, Jamaluddin JAF, Muhammad-Rasul AH, Ilham-Norhakim ML, Zain KM (2024) Mitochondrial evidence on the phylogenetic position of the Southeast Asian catfish genus Encheloclarias Myers, 1937 (Actinopterygii: Siluriformes: Clariidae): Evolutionary and conservation implications. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 54: 235-241.
Ng, H.H. 2019. Encheloclarias curtisoma. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019.
Ng, P.K.L. and K.K.P. Lim, 1993. The Southeast Asian catfish genus Encheloclarias (Teleostei: Clariidae), with descriptions of four new species. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 4(1):21-37.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

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

Encheloclarias curtisoma
From the locality Ayer Hitam (Johor, Peninsular Malaysia)

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