| Family: |
Siluridae (Sheatfishes) |
| Max. size: |
38 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater |
| Distribution: |
Asia: endemic to Dian Chi Lake, Yunnan, China. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 4-6; Anal soft rays: 61-73. Head depressed; eyes small and located in anterior section of head; snout short; lower jaw longer than upper one and its end extending nearly to anterior edge of eyes; barbels 2 pairs, body naked. Body dark gray on back and sides, with cloudy streaks and milky white on belly. |
| Biology: |
This carnivorous species lives in the edge of the lake with plenty of waterweeds where it stays at bottom of water by day and comes out to the surface seeking food by dawn and dusk (Ref. 45563, 117912). It relies on the macrophytes for shelter, the disappearance of which from the lake exposed these big fishes in the shallow water which resulted to increased mortality from its natural enemy and human beings. Predation of eggs and juveniles by the introduced
species in the lake may also play an important role (Ref. 117912). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 01 January 2008 (B1ab(ii,iii); D) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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