Asian redtail catfish
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Bagridae
Genus: Hemibagrus
Species:
H. wyckioides
Binomial name
Hemibagrus wyckioides
(P. W. Fang & Chaux, 1949)
Synonyms
  • Macrones wyckioides
    Fang & Chaux, 1949
  • Mystus wyckioides
    (Fang & Chaux, 1949)
  • Mystus aubentoni
    Desoutter, 1975

Hemibagrus wyckioides, the Asian redtail catfish, is a species of catfish (order Siluriformes) of the family Bagridae.

Distribution

These catfish originate from the Mekong basin, and are reported from Chao Phraya, Mae Klong, and peninsular Thailand river systems.[1] There is also an introduced population in Malaysia.[2]

Appearance and anatomy

Hemibagrus wyckioides reaches a length of 130 centimetres (51 inches) TL.[1] This species is the largest Bagrid catfish in Asia, and may reach 80 kilograms.[3] The caudal fin is white when the fish is small, but it becomes bright red when it reaches about 15 cm (6 in).[1]

Hemibagrus wyckii bears a resemblance to H. wyckioides, however, H. wyckioides lacks serrations on the dorsal fin spine, has a shorter dorsal fin base, and shorter maxillary barbels.[3]

Ecology

Hemibagrus wyckioides occurs in large upland rivers, and is common in areas with rocky bottoms and irregular depths.[1][3] These fish do not migrate, but they reproduce locally and enter the flooded forest during high water in July–October.[3] H. wyckiodies feed on insects, prawns, fish, and crabs.[3]

Relationship to humans

This fish is marketed fresh as a food fish.[1] Hemibagrus are aquacultured in Asian countries.[4]

Hemibagrus wyckioides and Hemibagrus wyckii are the two members of this genus imported as aquarium fish.[4] This species will rearrange decorations in the aquarium.[5] These fish are not picky, and will eat a variety of fish foods.[5] This species is sometimes claimed to be the most aggressive freshwater fish in the world, and should be left alone.[6]

As an Invasive Species

H. wyckioides is an invasive species in Malaysia. They were introduced as a food fish and some individuals escaped from fish farms or were released illegally into rivers. It is now illegal to keep H. wyckioides in net cages in Malaysia.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2007). "Hemibagrus wyckioides" in FishBase. May 2007 version.
  2. 1 2 "大马渔业局未曾发准证 养殖红尾鲶鱼者皆属违法 - 北马 - 地方". 東方網 馬來西亞東方日報 [Oriental Daily News] (in Chinese). 2021-04-03. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Ng, Heok Hee; Rainboth, Walter, J. (1999). "The Bagrid Catfish Genus Hemibagrus (Teleostei: Siluriformes) in Central Indochina with a New Species from the Mekong River" (PDF). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 47 (2): 555–576. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-01-18. Retrieved 2007-06-17.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. 1 2 Linder, R. Shane (June 2000). "The Catfishes of Asia Family Bagridae part two" (PDF). Cat Chat. 1 (2). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-08-20.
  5. 1 2 Ralph, Chris (2004-10-04). "Hemibagrus wyckioides". ScotCat.com. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  6. ↑ Hemibagrus wyckioides. PlanetCatfish.com. Accessed 18 May 2007.
  • Vidthayanon, C. 2012. Hemibagrus wyckioides. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012. Downloaded on 22 November 2017.
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