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Kryptopterus bicirrhis (Valenciennes, 1840)

Image contributors to this species:

Allan James (2) Fishes of Mainland Southeast Asia (2)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: Anal soft rays: 55 - 68. Rudimentary dorsal fin; the maxillary barbels reaching to the anal fin; 55-68 anal rays. Dorsal profile arched with a nuchal concavity; pectoral-fin length greater than head length. Habitat: Inhabits large rivers with turbid waters and is reported to prefer fast flowing water and usually occurs along the shores. Enters flooded fields. Found in lowland streams to peat adjacent in large school up to 100 fish. Diurnal. Aquarium Care: Quite a peaceful species that is best kept in a group which needs a lot of swimming space and a strong current. Provide a planted tank with overhanging or floating plants. Diet: Feeds mostly on pelagic hemipterans and some small fishes, also on worms, crustaceans and insects. In aquaria, small live foods and good quality flake, frozen and tablet foods. Etymology: The specific name bicirrhis: With two filaments, (or barbels). Remarks: Wrongly identified in most internet and book literature sources as K. bicirris, but the fish in question is usually Kryptopterus vitreolus.

Common Name:

Glass catfish

Synonyms:

Silurus bicirrhis

Family:

Siluridae

Distribution:

Asia: Mekong and Chao Phraya River basins, and Sundaland. Type locality: Java.

Size:

15.0cm. (6ins)

Temp:

22-26°C (71-79°F)

p.H.

6.5-7.5.

IUCN Red List

Although there is no detailed information on the population size and trend of this species, it is still abundant throughout its known distribution (except in Java) and the population trend is thus suspected to be stable or declining at a rate that precludes it from a threatened category. Despite being possibly extirpated from Java, any localised or regional threats to this species are considered unlikely to affect it on a range-wide scale. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern, (IUCN 2019).

Reference:

Allen, D.J. & Ng, H.H. 2019. Kryptopterus bicirrhis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2009. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (12/2011).
Riehl, R. and H.A. Baensch 1991 Aquarien Atlas. Band. 1. Melle: Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde, Germany. 992 p.

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

Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Kryptopterus bicirrhis

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