Eel-catfishes, eeltail catfishes, stinging catfishes or coral catfishes are members of the Plotosidae family. They are found in fresh, brackish, and marine waters of tropical and subtropical regions of the Indo-West Pacific. They differ from all other catfish families in possessing a dendritic organ at the base of the anal fin. Their second dorsal fin and anal fin confluent with caudal fin forming a pointed or bluntly rounded tail. Their dorsal and pectoral fin spines are armed with potent venom, capable of producing very painful sting.
Eel-catfishes are bottom feeders and use the barbels around their mouth to detect food. They feed primarily on crustaceans, molluscs and fishes.
There are 10 genera and about 40 species of eel-catfishes that make up the Plotosidae family worldwide. Malaysia is represented by 2 genera and 3 species of eel catfishes.
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Scientific Name: Paraplotosus albilabris (Valenciennes, 1840) English Name: Whitelipped Eel Catfish Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 鳗鲶 (Mán nián),海土虱 (Hǎi tǔ shī), 白唇副鳗鲶 (Bái chún fù mán nián) Local Malay Name: Ikan Semilang, Semilang Perut Putih Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาดุกทะเล (Plā dukthale) Local Hokkien: Thor Sat Local Teochew: Thow Sak Size: Maximum length about 130 cm, usually 40 cm or less. Habitat and Ecology: Sand and mud bottoms, 1 to 12 m depth. Occurs solitary or in small groups. Feeds mainly on molluscs and crustaceans. Remarks: Very venomous spines at the dorsal and pectoral fins. Be very careful in handling.  Scientific Name: Plotosus canius Hamilton, 1822 English Name: Black Eel Catfish, Gray Eel-catfish Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 鳗鲶 (Mán nián), 海土虱(Hǎi tǔ shī), 印度洋鳗鲶 (Yìndùyáng mán nián) Local Malay Name: Ikan Semilang, Sembilang Gemang Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาดุกทะเลเทา (Plā dukthale theā), ปลาดุกทะเลยักษ์ (Plā dukthale yạks̄) Local Hokkien: Thor Sat Local Teochew: Thow Sak Size: Maximum length about 150 cm, usually 80 cm or less. Habitat and Ecology: Coastal, estuaries and lagoons. Occurs solitary or in small groups. Feeds mainly on crustaceans, molluscs and fishes. Remarks: Very venomous spines at the dorsal and pectoral fins. Be very careful in handling.  Scientific Name: Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg, 1787) English Name: Striped Eel-catfish Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 沙麻 (Shā má), 海土虱(Hǎi tǔ shī), 横纹鳗鲶 (Héng wén mán nián) Local Malay Name: Sembilang Karang, Usat, Sembilang batu, Kelara, Gemang Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาสามแก้ว (Plā s̄āmkæ̂w), ปลาดุกทะเลลาย (Plā dukthale lāy), ปลาดุกทะเลแถบ (Plā dukthale t̄hæb) Local Hokkien: Sua Mua Size: Maximum length about 30 cm. Habitat and Ecology: Coral reefs, estuaries and lagoons, 1 to 60 m depth. Adult often occurs solitary, juveniles occur in large schools. Feeds mainly on crustaceans, molluscs, worm and fishes. Remarks: Very venomous spines at the dorsal and pectoral fins. Be very careful in handling. 
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