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Ailia coila is heavily utilised as a food fish (Talwar and Jhingran 1991, Patra et al. 2005, Mishra et al. 2009). Heavy harvesting of the fish could be a threat to its population (Patra et al. 2005, Mishra et al. 2009). Ailia coila was originally described as Malapterurus coila by Hamilton (1822) from freshwater rivers of West Bengal. Gray's (1830) illustrations of Acanthonotus hardwickii, Silurus (Acanthonotus) cuvieri and Malapterus (Ailia) bengalensis and Günther's (1864) description of Ailia affinisre are all currently synonymised to Ailia coila (Ferraris 2007). Aquarium Care: Handling Ailiid Catfishes is no joke as they are extremely sensitive when taken out of water and must be provided certain parameters and environment to keep them alive. After multiple failed attempts I managed to procure live specimens of all the 4 genera present in my locality and kept them in my home aquaria (Mishra, Abhisek 2023). Diet: Feeds on insects, shrimps, other crustaceans and small fish. As per captive feeding, being predatory in nature they will need meaty foods such as shrimps, earthworms, mealworms etc. Etymology: The genus name of Ailia: a local name for A. coila (and Ailiichthys punctata) in India. The specific name coila: etymology not explained, possibly latinisation of Kajoli (pronounced “kway-la”), Assamese name for this catfish in Rangbur, Bangladesh. Remarks: Ailia coila is a widespread species that has undergone significant decline in its population due to overexploitation as a food fish in parts, if not throughout its entire range. However, potential problems in taxonomy and problems in extrapolating data from localised studies for the entire subcontinent (to fully assess population decline) make it impossible to accurately assess this species. Due to limited evidence available that suggest significant declines in population as a result of overfishing, the species is assessed as Near Threatened (a possible decline of close to 30% over its entire range over a ten year period) with urgent need to study the threats, harvest levels and population changes in this species. (Red List of Threatened Species 2011).

Gangetic ailia

Acanthonotus hardwickii, Ailia affinis, Ailia bengalensis, Malapterurus coila, Malapterurus cuvieri, Malapterus bengalensis, Silurus cuvieri.

Ailiidae

Asia: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal.

28.0cm (11¼ins)

22-24°C (71-75°F)

6.5-7.2.