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Bareheaded bagrid (Tachysurus nudiceps) — Bagridae

Bareheaded bagrid

Tachysurus nudiceps
Family: Bagridae

The Bareheaded bagrid (Tachysurus nudiceps) is a freshwater fish of the family Bagridae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The bareheaded bagrid is a Japanese catfish of the bagrid family (Bagridae), endemic to Japan. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a streamlined body with barbels around the mouth, an adipose fin and a nearly scaleless, 'bare' head, to which its name refers. It inhabits Lake Biwa and rivers of western Japan and is a bottom-oriented omnivore feeding on insect larvae, small crustaceans and plant matter. Like other bagrids it has stout pectoral and dorsal spines that can give painful puncture wounds. Therefore handle the species with care. It is eaten locally and is otherwise harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bareheaded bagrid?

The Bareheaded bagrid has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Bareheaded bagrid live?

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

How big does the Bareheaded bagrid get?

The Bareheaded bagrid grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Bareheaded bagrid dangerous to humans?

No, the Bareheaded bagrid is harmless to humans.

Is the Bareheaded bagrid edible?

The Bareheaded bagrid is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kaalkop-stekelmeerval sourced
English name
Bareheaded bagrid sourced
Scientific name
Tachysurus nudiceps
Family
Bagridae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
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 Tachysurus

More from the family Bagridae

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