Description:
Dorsal. 1, 7. A. 14-16. P. 1, 12. Very few scattered
granulations over posterior part of head. Maxillary
barbels reach just beyond base of pectorals, others
shorter. Villiform teeth in premaxillaries 6 times
longer than wide. Palatine teeth obtusely conic in
2 pyriform patches. Colouration:
Bluish on back, lighter on sides and below. Fins with
slight tinge of grey. No black mark on adipose.
Habitat: Occurs in coastal waters and estuaries.
Diet: Feeds mainly on invertebrates.
Caught mainly with bottom trawls, stake traps, shore
seines, set bagnets and on hook and line. An important
food fish. (Munro Ian S.R. 2000). Remarks:
Still found on some online sources as the synonym
Plicofollis platystomus. It is listed as
least concern in the Red List of Threatened Species.
This species has a broad distribution, and although
it is a commercially important food source, fishing
is not considered a major threat to the population
at present. Further research and monitoring of the
population numbers and harvest levels of this species
is recommended, to determine if it is likely to suffer
a significant population decline in the future (IUCN
2010).
Common
Name:
Flat
mouthed catfish
Synonyms:
Plicofollis
platystomus
Family:
Ariidae
Distribution:
Indian
Ocean: India and Sri Lanka. Also reported
from Pakistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Type
locality: Canara [India].
Size:
31.0cm.TL (12½ins)
Temp:
20-27°c (67-81°f)
p.H.
6.5-8.0.
Reference:
Betancur, R. 2010.
Plicofollis platystomus (errata version published
in 2017). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
2010.
De Bruin, G.H.P., B.C. Russell and A. Bogusch,
1995 FAO species identification field guide for fishery
purposes. The marine fishery resources of Sri Lanka.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2022. FishBase.
World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org,
( 11/2022 ).
Ian S R Munroe. The Marine and Fresh Water
Fishes of Ceylon. Biotech Books. 1123/74. Tri Nagar.
Dheli-110035.
Jayaram, K.C., 1984. Ariidae. In W. Fischer
and G. Bianchi (eds.) FAO species identification sheets
for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean fishing
area 51. Vol. 1. FAO, Rome. pag. var.
Kailola, P. J. 2022 (29 Sept.) Family Ariidae,
Sea catfishes (Pp. 182-198, Pls. 27-29). In: Heemstra,
P. C. et al. 2022: Coastal fishes of the western Indian
Ocean. Volume 2.
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