Pi29 and Pi98 Heteropneustes fossilis (Stinging catfish)

 Pi29 and Pi98                                Heteropneustes fossilis  (Stinging catfish)

 

Phylum   : Chordata

Class       : Actinopterygii  

Order      : Siluriformes

Family    : Heteropneustidae

Genus     : Heteropneustes

Species    : H. fossilis

 

Description

Habitats:  Very common in pond, ditches, swamps and marshes but found in muddy river

 

Distribution: South America: Pakistan and Sri Lanka to Myanmar

 

Heteropneustes fossilis (Stinging Catfish) is a species of ray-finned fishes in the family airsac catfishes. They are associated with freshwater habitat. Uniform grey-brown to olive-brown. Two narrow, pale to yellowish, longitudinal bands and numerous black spots on the flanks. Fins often fawn. Anal fin occasionally with dark marbling. Eye yellow. Individuals can grow to 41.2 cm. Body elongate and compressed. Depressed head covered with osseous plate at top and sides of the head. Barbels four pairs in which maxillary pairs extend to end of pectorals or to commencement to anal and mandibular pairs extend upto base of pelvics but nasal pair considerably shorter than mandibular pairs. Outstanding anatomical feature is a pair of accessory respiratory organ (air sacs) which extends backwards from the gill-chamber on either side of vertebral column. Caudal rounded. They have sexual reproduction.

 

IUCN status: Least Concern