The diferences
between Wallago and Wallagonia are
complex and are due to the different bone structures.
Wallagonia was placed by Myers (1948) and
nearly all subsequent authors as a junior synonym
of Wallago, but it is was later recognised
as a distinct genus by Roberts, T. R. 2014.
Description: Dorsal spines (total):
1 - 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 4 - 4; Anal soft
rays: 61 – 75. Mouth reaching only to anterior
margin of eye; mandibular barbel shorter than pelvic
fin. Adults inhabit large streams and rivers
and enter flooded forest. Fry occur at the mouth of
small streams connected to larger rivers, where the
bottom is muddy and with overhanging vegetation. They
spawn in the river where there are sandy beds. The
spawners go in pairs and deposit eggs on the sand
and they guard the eggs until they hatch. A nocturnal
predator on fishes and prawns. Reproduction:
Oviparous, distinct pairing possibly like other members
of the same family. In the Mekong, this species migrates
into smaller streams to spawn. Fishermen along Kapuas
observed that it used to form large migratory schools
in Kapuas mainstream but such schools had become less
noticeable, and this was attributed to intensive gill
netting. Usually consumed fresh or processed as salted
fish. Aquarium Care: Only juveniles
can be kept in aquaria and fed on tablet food, beef
heart and similar foods. Adult fish are not deemed
suitable for aquarium keeping due to the size, verocity
and its feeding needs for living fish. Diet:
Being a carnivore the diet consists of fish, shrimps
and other living organisms. Remarks:
Cited in Fishbase as Wallago but in Eschmeyer's
Catalog of Fishes it is placed in the current status
of Wallagonia
leerii (Bleeker
1851)
(2018).
Froese, R. and D. Pauly.
Editors. 2008. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic
publication. www.fishbase.org, version (11/2008). Roberts, T. R. 2014 (Apr.) Wallago
Bleeker, 1851 and Wallagonia Myers, 1938 (Ostariophysi,
Siluridae), distinct genera of tropical Asian catfishes,
with description of [fossil] Walloago maemohensis
from the Miocene of Thailand. BioOne v. 55 (no. 1):
35-47. [Originally as Bulletin of the Peabody Museum
of Natural History, 55 (1):35-47.]
Wallagonia
leerii Caught by Jean-Francois Helias in Ratchaburi, Thailand.
Sept.21st. 2008
Wallagonia
leerii
Wallagonia
leerii
Wallagonia
leerii
If you would like to contribute to the monthly
factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail
me. You will of course be credited for your work.
If you would like to donate any denomination
of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds
will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few
years yet.