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Catfish (Bagrus docmak) — Bagridae

Catfish

Bagrus docmak
Family: Bagridae
LC · Least Concern

The Catfish (Bagrus docmak) is a freshwater fish of the family Bagridae that grows up to 127 cm.

Length
127 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
0.0–80.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The semutundu (Bagrus docmak) is a large African catfish of the family Bagridae from the Nile, Lake Victoria and other waters of eastern and Central Africa. The species has a streamlined, silvery-grey body with a broad head, four pairs of barbels and strong fin spines, and can reach about 1.3 metres. It inhabits lakes, swamps and rivers, both shallow and deep, and is probably associated with rocky bottoms. It is mainly active at night and dusk and hunts fishes, insects and invertebrates as a predator. The species is a valued sport and food fish that is fished commercially.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Catfish?

The Catfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Catfish live?

The Catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Catfish get?

The Catfish grows to a maximum of about 127 cm. On average the species is around 62 cm.

Is the Catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Catfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Catfish edible?

Yes, the Catfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Semutundu-meerval sourced
English name
Catfish verified
Scientific name
Bagrus docmak
Family
Bagridae
Other names
Cat-fish; Semutundu; Silver catfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
127.0 verified
Average length (cm)
62.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
80.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
5.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk visaas in diepere, rustige delen van meren en rivieren, vooral 's nachts; pas op voor de stevige vinstekels. sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

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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