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Blue bagrid (Bagrus caeruleus) — Bagridae

Blue bagrid

Bagrus caeruleus
Family: Bagridae

The Blue bagrid (Bagrus caeruleus) is a freshwater fish of the family Bagridae that grows up to 21 cm.

Length
21 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Venomous / poisonous

Description

The Blue bagrid is a bagrid catfish (Bagridae) from fresh water of East Africa. The species has a sturdy, scaleless, brown-grey body with four pairs of barbels, an adipose fin and a long anal fin. As a nocturnal bottom-dweller it searches over sand and mud of rivers and lakes for insect larvae, small crustaceans, molluscs and small fish. The stout, serrated pectoral and dorsal spines are venomous and can give a painful puncture wound.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blue bagrid?

The Blue bagrid has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Blue bagrid live?

The Blue bagrid lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Blue bagrid get?

The Blue bagrid grows to a maximum of about 21 cm.

Is the Blue bagrid dangerous to humans?

The Blue bagrid is venomous — handle spines with care and seek medical help after a sting if needed.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Blauwe stekelmeerval sourced
English name
Blue bagrid sourced
Scientific name
Bagrus caeruleus
Family
Bagridae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
21.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Venomous / poisonous verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Bagrus

More from the family Bagridae

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