Arius maculatus (Thunberg, 1792)
Spotted catfish
photo by Gloerfelt-Tarp, T.

Family:  Ariidae (Sea catfishes), subfamily: Ariinae
Max. size:  80 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 50 - 100 m, potamodromous
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: off the west and east coast of India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar to the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819) and the Indo-Australian Archipelago (excluding Australia). Known from the Mekong Delta (Ref. 12693).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Anal soft rays: 16-30. Head shield somewhat rugose; deep and long median fontanelle groove.
Biology:  Adults occurs in inshore waters and estuaries. Occasionally form schools. Feed on invertebrates and small fishes. Males incubate eggs in the mouth (Ref. 205). Caught mainly with set bag nets and bamboo stake traps. Marketed fresh (Ref. 3290). Air bladders are exported as isinglass used by the wine industry (Ref. 43081). Strong venomous dorsal and pectoral spines provide protection for the fish (Ref. 43081).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  traumatogenic


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.