Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Siluridae (Sheatfishes)
Etymology: Kryptopterus: Greek, kryptos = hidden + Greek, pteron = wing. Fin (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Valenciennes.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 21°C - 26°C (Ref. 1672)
Asia: Mekong and Chao Phraya basins; Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 15.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27732)
Anal soft rays: 55 - 68. Rudimentary dorsal fin; the maxillary barbels reaching to the anal fin; 55-68 anal rays (Ref. 27732). Dorsal profile arched with a nuchal concavity; pectoral-fin length greater than head length (Ref. 12693).
Inhabits large rivers with turbid waters (Ref. 27732). Reported to prefer fast flowing water and usually occurs along the shores (Ref. 56749). Enters flooded fields (Ref. 12975). Found in lowland streams to peat adjacent in large school up to 100 fish (Ref. 57235). Diurnal. Feeds mostly on pelagic hemipterans and some small fishes (Ref. 12693), also on worms, crustaceans and insects (Ref. 7020). The clearest body of world's fish (Ref. 57235). Used to make prahoc or fish sauce and regularly seen in the aquarium trade (Ref. 12693). Aquarium keeping: at least 10 individuals; minimum aquarium size 100 cm (Ref. 51539, 57235).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kottelat, M., 1998. Fishes of the Nam Theun and Xe Bangfai basins, Laos, with diagnoses of twenty-two new species (Teleostei: Cyprinidae, Balitoridae, Cobitidae, Coiidae and Odontobutidae). Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 9(1):1-128. (Ref. 27732)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: highly commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00562 (0.00279 - 0.01132), b=3.00 (2.83 - 3.17), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.63 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).