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Mystus carcio (Hamilton, 1822)

Image contributors to this species:

Steven Grant (1) Allan James (1) Chris Ralph (5)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: It can be differentiated from all others by its small adult size, very small adipose fin, a dark horizontal mark across the tympanum, greenish yellow colouration, large laterally placed eyes, and relatively long and wide fontanel which is distinctly split by a thick epiphyseal bar. Etymology: The genus name Mystus: "Mystax" meaning whiskered (hair on the upper lip) Mystus was first used by Belon in 1553 to describe all fish with whiskers. The specific name carcio: presumably a local Bengali name for this species in India. Remarks: Sometimes confused as representing M. vittatus (Grant, S. 2009).

Common Name:

Pyjama Cat

Synonyms:

Pimelodus batasio

Family:

Bagridae

Distribution:

Asia: The ponds of northern Bengal.

Size:

4.0cm (1½ins)

Temp:

22-27°C (71-81°F)

p.H.

6.0-7.5.

IUCN Red List

Mystus carcio is widely distributed in Brahmaputra and Meghna river drainages in northeastern India and Bangladesh. Although this species is most commonly harvested and traded fish in the region, there are no major threats identified. Hence the species is assessed as Least Concern, but needs updating (IUCN 2010).

Reference:

Grant, Steven. ScotCat Article: The striped catfishes of the genus Mystus Scopoli, 1777 (Siluriformes: Bagridae).
Grant, S., 2006. The striped catfishes of the genus Mystus Scopoli, 1777 (Siluriformes: Bagridae). Journal of the catfish study group (UK) 5 (2): 5-17 [updated version 13 pp.]. [Originally published in 2004 as above, updated version available from 22 Apr. 2006 at scotcat.com.].
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.
Vishwanath, W. 2010. Mystus carcio. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010.

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

Mystus carcio

Mystus carcio
Specimen with one eye

Mystus carcio

Mystus carcio
Head view

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