Scientific Name
Netuma thalassina

Common Name
Giant catfish

Biology
A marine species often found in estuaries, but rarely enters freshwater. Typically euryhaline (Ref. 3876). Reported to occasionally ascend into fresh water (Ref. 12693). Recorded at temperatures ranging from 26-29?C. Feeds mainly on crabs, prawns, mantis shrimps (Squilla species) but also on fishes and mollusks. An important food fish. Marketed mostly fresh; often dried.

Classification

Classified By

R?ppell, 1837

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Sea catfishes (Ariidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Indian Ocean

Distribution

Western Indian Ocean: known with certainty from the Red Sea and the northwestern Indian Ocean. A closely related form occurs in the Philippines and Gulf of Thailand. The wider distribution usually given for this species stems from misidentifications of similar species overlapping its range. Also reported from Australia, Polynesia and Japan and rarely in the Mekong delta (Ref. 12693).

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

195 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 10 - 195 m (Ref. 12260)

Trophic Level

3.1 s.e. 0.30 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

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

185 cm

Common Length

70.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (70 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2-4; tmax=19)

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 58010)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated