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Hemisilurus mekongensis Bornbusch & Lundberg, 1989

Image contributors to this species:

Andy Taylor (2) Allan James (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Endemic to the Mekong basin. Description: Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0 - 0; Anal soft rays: 79 - 92. Wide fringed membranous maxillary barbel in females; a single patch of vomerine teeth; pectoral-fin spine thin and smooth in females and thin with weak serrations in males. Posterior nostril above and behind eye. Habitat: Inhabits large upland rivers and enters flooded forest. Found in rapids and in deep slow reaches. Diet: Feeds on worms, plants, animal debris and insects. The mouth and gill cavity usually contain sand, and the intestine from several specimens examined contained mostly compacted lumps of fine sediment. Remarks: The first two images depicted were taken at stock tanks at the Britain's Aquatic Superstore, Bolton, England, were they had been imported from Laos via Singapore. The third image specimen was taken at Pier Aquatics, Wigan, England.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Siluridae

Distribution:

Asia: Mekong River basin. Type locality: Thailand, Ubon Ratchathani Province, Khong Chiam District, Mun River at Ban Dan, upstream of confluence with Mekong River, 15º18'N, 105º31'E.

Size:

70.0cm.SL (28ins)

Temp:

21-27°C (69-81F)

p.H.

6.0-7.0.

Reference:

Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2008. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (12/2010).
Rainboth, W.J. 1996 Fishes of the Cambodian Mekong. FAO Species Identification Field Guide for Fishery Purposes. FAO, Rome, 265 p.

Family: Siluridae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Hemisilurus mekongensis

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