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Giant claroteid catfish (Pardiglanis tarabinii) — Claroteidae

Giant claroteid catfish

Pardiglanis tarabinii
Family: Claroteidae

The Giant claroteid catfish (Pardiglanis tarabinii) is a freshwater fish of the family Claroteidae that grows up to 75 cm.

Length
75 cm
Water
Freshwater
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Can cause injury

Description

The giant claroteid catfish is a large naked catfish (Claroteidae) from rivers and swamps of East Africa around the Jubba and Shabeelle drainages. The species can reach about 1 m and has a massive, scaleless, grey-brown body with a broad, flattened head, barbels, an adipose fin and stout spines in the dorsal and pectoral fins. As a nocturnal bottom predator it hunts fish, crustaceans and large invertebrates. The powerful fin spines can give a deep, painful puncture wound.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Giant claroteid catfish?

The Giant claroteid catfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Giant claroteid catfish live?

The Giant claroteid catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Giant claroteid catfish get?

The Giant claroteid catfish grows to a maximum of about 75 cm.

Is the Giant claroteid catfish dangerous to humans?

The Giant claroteid catfish can cause injury; handle it with care.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Reuzen-naaktmeerval sourced
English name
Giant claroteid catfish sourced
Scientific name
Pardiglanis tarabinii
Family
Claroteidae
Other names
Giant Catfish; Giant pancake-headed catfish; Somalian giant catfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
75.0 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

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
Can cause injury verified

Status & sources

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

More from the family Claroteidae

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