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Striped bagrid (Tachysurus virgatus) — Bagridae

Striped bagrid

Tachysurus virgatus
Family: Bagridae

The Striped bagrid (Tachysurus virgatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Bagridae that grows up to 13 cm.

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

Description

The Striped bagrid is a bagrid catfish (Bagridae) from fresh water of East Asia. The species grows to about 20 cm and 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 Striped bagrid?

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

Where does the Striped bagrid live?

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

How big does the Striped bagrid get?

The Striped bagrid grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Striped bagrid dangerous to humans?

The Striped 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
Streep-stekelmeerval sourced
English name
Striped bagrid sourced
Scientific name
Tachysurus virgatus
Family
Bagridae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.3 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
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. 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 Tachysurus

More from the family Bagridae

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