Scientific Name
Bagarius bagarius

Common Name
Goonch

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6; Anal soft rays: 13 - 14; Vertebrae: 38 - 42. Pelvic-fin origin in front of the base of the last dorsal ray; adipose-fin origin behind the anal-fin origin (Ref. 27732). Elongate neural spines 4-8, distally expanded abdominal vertebrae 17-20 (Ref. 35669). Absence of sharp ridge on top of head; absence of bumps on dorsal mid-line behind dorsal fin base (Ref. 43281). Mouth large, inferior and arciform (Ref. 45563).

Classification

Classified By

Hamilton, 1822

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Sisorid catfishes (Sisoridae)

Distribution

Region

Asia

Distribution

Asia: Ganges, Mekong and Chao Phraya basins (Ref. 27732). Reported from Salween, Maeklong and Peninsular Thailand (Ref. 26336).

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

18 °C

Water Temperature To

25 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; ; pH range: 6.5 - 7.8; dH range: 12 - 30 benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243)

Trophic Level

3.72 s.e. 0.59 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

200 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5625 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (71 of 100)

Resilience

Unknown

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Near Threatened (NT)