Airbreathing Catfishes
Airbreathing catfishes, also known as walking catfishes, belong to the Clariidae family. These catfish have a dorsal fin that extends along much of their body length, usually with over 30 dorsal fin rays and lacking a leading spine. The dorsal fin may be either discontinuous or fused with the rounded caudal fin. Clariids are noted for their high adaptability and tolerance to low water quality. They are distributed across Africa, Syria, and southern and western Asia, including regions from the Philippines to Java.
Clariids are freshwater fish that thrive in low-oxygen environments such as swamps, wetlands, and burrows. Their air-breathing organ enables them to survive out of water and migrate between different water bodies. Most species are carnivorous, feeding on small fish, crustaceans, and insects.
There are approximately 15 genera and 115 species of Clariidae family members globally, with around 11 species found in Malaysia.
Clariids are freshwater fish that thrive in low-oxygen environments such as swamps, wetlands, and burrows. Their air-breathing organ enables them to survive out of water and migrate between different water bodies. Most species are carnivorous, feeding on small fish, crustaceans, and insects.
There are approximately 15 genera and 115 species of Clariidae family members globally, with around 11 species found in Malaysia.
Scientific Name: Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)
English Name: North African Catfish, African Sharptooth Catfish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 胡鲶 (Hú nián), 塘虱 (Táng shī)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Keli, Keli Afrika
Bahasa Indonesia: Ikan Lele Dumbo
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาดุกแอฟริกา (Plā duk afrikā)
Local Hokkien: Thor Sat
Local Teochew: Thow Sak
Main Identification Features: Body scaleless and elongate, usually with irregular dark blotches on light grey background, white ventral surface. Head large, depressed and bony with small eyes. Supraoccipital process pointed (V shape at the back of head). Upper surface of the head is coarsely granulated in adult. Long dorsal and anal fins, extending to caudal peduncle. Caudal fin rounded.
Size: Maximum total length 170 cm, commonly to 90 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Native to Africa, Niger and Nile Rivers. Benthopelagic freshwater fish species. Found in rivers and wetlands with soft muddy substrate. Feeds on varieties of food including insects, worms, gastropods, crustaceans, small fishes, small land animal, plants and debris.
English Name: North African Catfish, African Sharptooth Catfish
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 胡鲶 (Hú nián), 塘虱 (Táng shī)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Keli, Keli Afrika
Bahasa Indonesia: Ikan Lele Dumbo
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาดุกแอฟริกา (Plā duk afrikā)
Local Hokkien: Thor Sat
Local Teochew: Thow Sak
Main Identification Features: Body scaleless and elongate, usually with irregular dark blotches on light grey background, white ventral surface. Head large, depressed and bony with small eyes. Supraoccipital process pointed (V shape at the back of head). Upper surface of the head is coarsely granulated in adult. Long dorsal and anal fins, extending to caudal peduncle. Caudal fin rounded.
Size: Maximum total length 170 cm, commonly to 90 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Native to Africa, Niger and Nile Rivers. Benthopelagic freshwater fish species. Found in rivers and wetlands with soft muddy substrate. Feeds on varieties of food including insects, worms, gastropods, crustaceans, small fishes, small land animal, plants and debris.
