Wallago
attu (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
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| Image
contributors to this species: |
| Johnny
Jensen's Photographic Library (2)
Frants Lehmann (1 Stamp)
Jean-Francois Helias (5)
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| ScotCat
Sources: |
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| Other
Sources: |
  
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| Relevant
Information: |
Dorsal soft rays (total):
5 - 5; Anal soft rays: 77 - 97. Head broad, snout depressed. Body
elongate, strongly compressed. Mouth very deeply cleft, its corner
reaching far behind eyes. Teeth in jaws set in wide bands; vomerine
teeth in two small patches. Barbels two pairs; maxillary barbels
extending to anterior margin posterior of anal fin, mandibulary
barbels to angle of mouth. Eyes small, with a free orbital margin.
Dorsal fin small, anal fin very long. Mandibular barbel longer
than pelvic fin; 24-30 gill rakers on the first arch. Eye in front
of vertical through corner of mouth. Found in large rivers, lakes
and tanks. A large, voracious and predatory catfish which thrives
in heels with grassy margins. Mostly hides under holes in river
banks and canals. Associated with deep, still or slow-flowing
water with a mud or silt substrate . Sluggish and stays on muddy
or silty bottom in search of food. Juveniles feed mainly on insects;
adults feed on smaller fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Oviparous,
distinct pairing possibly like other members of the same family.
Abundant during the warm season; a pre-monsoon summer breeder.
In the Mekong, it is reported to migrate to smaller streams, canals
and to the floodplain during the flood season. When the water
level in the Mekong drops and the flood recedes, it moves to the
Mekong or larger tributaries, where it stays in deep pools until
the next inundation period. Destructive to other more valuable
food-fishes. Bites strongly if handled, with its huge mouth, formidable
jaws, and band of conical teeth. Threatened due to over harvesting.
Only juveniles can be kept in aquariuma and fed on tablet food,
beef heart and similar foods. This fish is not deemed suitable
for aquarium keeping due to its size, verocity and its feeding
needs for living fish. |
| Common
Name: |
Wallago
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| Synonyms: |
Silurus attu, Wallagonia
attu, Wallago attu valeya, Pinniwalago kanpurensis
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| Family: |
Siluridaeycipitidae |
| Distribution: |
Asia:
Pakistan to Viet Nam and Indonesia. Reported from Afghanistan.
Lower risk - near threatened status in Western Ghats,
India |
| Size:
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200cm.
(6ft 8ins) |
| Temp: |
22-25°C
(71-77°F) |
| p.H. |
6.5-8.0. |
| Reference: |
Froese, R. and
D. Pauly. Editors. 2009.FishBase. World Wide Web electronic
publication. www.fishbase.org, version (07/2010).
Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl 1985 Aquarien atlas.
Band 2. Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde GmbH,
Melle, Germany. 1216 p. |
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Family:
Siluridae
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| Click
on thumbnails |
 Wallago
attu
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 Wallago
attu
The business end!
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 Wallago
attu
Stamp
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 Wallago
attu
Close up of head
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 Wallago
attu
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 Wallago
attu
Caught by Image contributor; Jean-Francois Helias
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 Wallago
attu
Caught by Image contributor; Jean-Francois Helias
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 Wallago
attu
Showing mouth
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