| Siluridae (Sheatfishes) |
| 38 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
|
demersal; freshwater |
| Asia: endemic to Dian Chi Lake, Yunnan, China. |
|
Dorsal soft rays (total): 4-6; Anal soft rays: 61-73. Head depressed; eyes small and located in anterior section of head; snout short; lower jaw longer than upper one and its end extending nearly to anterior edge of eyes; barbels 2 pairs, body naked. Body dark gray on back and sides, with cloudy streaks and milky white on belly. |
| This carnivorous species lives in the edge of the lake with plenty of waterweeds where it stays at bottom of water by day and comes out to the surface seeking food by dawn and dusk (Ref. 45563, 117912). It relies on the macrophytes for shelter, the disappearance of which from the lake exposed these big fishes in the shallow water which resulted to increased mortality from its natural enemy and human beings. Predation of eggs and juveniles by the introduced
species in the lake may also play an important role (Ref. 117912). |
|
Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 01 January 2008 (B1ab(ii,iii); D) Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
|
Endemic to Dian Chi Lake (Ref. 6376), with a surface area of 292.6 sq. m in the Yunnan Province. It was common before the 1950s and has become rare afterwards that it was not found anymore in the lake since the 1970s. The most likely caused by habitat loss and introduced species, It is most likely extinct but further surveys are needed to confirm its disappearance for it may be possible that a population may still be present in connected resoirvoirs such as in Songhuaba.. Assessed as Critically Endangered in January 2008 with assumed 0-50 number of mature individuals (Ref. 117912). Also Ref. 9417, 35840, 45563.
Status of threat: Endangered (Ref. 45563). |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
