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🌊 Marine ⚠️ Venomous ⚡ Traumatogenic 🌡️ Tropical

Squirrelheaded catfish

Arius microcephalus Bleeker, 1855
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Max Length
60 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.6
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
39.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
-

📖 Overview

Found in inshore and turbid brackish waters and tidal reaches of rivers . Probably feeding on mollusks or thick-shelled crustaceans .

Scientific Name
Arius microcephalus
Authority
Bleeker, 1855
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Max Length
60 cm
Trophic Level
3.6
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
39.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Teleostei
Order
Siluriformes
Siluriformes
Family
Ariidae
Ariidae
Genus
Arius
Arius
Species
Squirrelheaded catfish
Arius microcephalus

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Squirrelheaded catfish is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Squirrelheaded catfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner 👄 Mouth Brooder
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; brackish; benthopelagic. Tropical

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🌿 Brackish
Trophic Level
3.6±0.4

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00794 × L3.08 (TL)
Max TL
60cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
39.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.6
Predator
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Bleeker, 1855

⚠️ Venom Profile

Medical Warning: This species is venomous. Seek immediate medical attention if envenomated. Contact emergency services and follow first aid guidance below.
Venom Type
proteinaceous
Delivery
dorsal and pectoral spines with venom glands
Potency
Mild
Mortality Risk
Low
Symptom Onset
2min
Duration
12.0hrs
Antivenom
✗ Not Available
Named Toxins
crinotoxins protein toxins
Symptoms
  • pain
  • oedema
  • rare systemic effects
Affected Body Systems
peripheral nervous system
First Aid
Hot water immersion.
Medical Treatment

Wound care, analgesia.

References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English squirrelheaded catfish
🌍CES křížovec malohlavý

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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View all observations for Squirrelheaded catfish ↗
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