Description:
The Falsespine Catfish has an elongate body with a
tall first dorsal fin. The second dorsal fin and anal
fin are continuous with the caudal fin. There is a
flexible cartilaginous spine at the front of the first
dorsal fin and pectoral fins. Habitat:
Inhabits pools and flowing streams, swimming close
to rocky or sandy substrate. Widespread in rivers
and creeks of the Kimberley region and prefer habitat
of variable-sized rocky pools, usually with slow to
relatively swift-flowing water. Colouration:
The species is grey to black above and whitish on
the belly. Juveniles are lighter in colour. Remarks:
Closely resembles Neosilurus
mollespiculum,
the only other Australian plotosid which lacks rigid
dorsal and pectoral spines, but that species has shorter
nasal barbels.
Common
Name:
False-spined catfish
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Plotosidae
Distribution:
Oceania:
Ord River, Western Australia. Type locality:
Rocky pool of Ord R. on Old Lissadel Station, Kimberley
Dist., Western Australia, ca. 16º40'S, 128º83'E.
Size:
35.0cm. (14ins)
Temp:
22-28°C (71-83°F)
p.H.
6.5-8.0.
Reference:
Allen, G.R., S.H. Midgley
and M. Allen,
2002. Field guide to the freshwater fishes of Australia.
Western Australian Museum, Perth, Western Australia.
394 p. Allen, G.R. and M.N. Feinberg, 1998.
Descriptions of a new genus and four new species of
freshwater catfishes (Plotosidae) from Australia.
Aqua J. Ichthyol. Aquat. Biol. 3(1):9-18. australianmuseum.net.au Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors.
2009. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
www.fishbase.org, version (01/2017).
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