Rough-head sea catfish
📖 Overview
Mainly marine but frequently found in brackish estuaries, sometimes enters freshwater . Frequent in lagoons . Common during winter . Feeds on fish, benthic invertebrates, zooplankton and detritus . Wide range of diet including a high percentage of penaeid and other prawns, crabs, polychaetes, fish and molluscs . Eggs very few, spherical, very large (16-17 mm diameter); males practise buccal incubation during which it seems the species continues to feed . Ornamental and sometimes considered aquaria fish , the fish is venomous and can be dangerous to humans .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 13 - 14. Diagnosis: body elongated and rounded, head broad and only slightly flattened above, snout rounded, mouth inferior; osseous head shield coarsely rugose, fairly visible through the skin; occipital process prominently broad at base, tapering posteriorly, with a median keel; predorsal plate very rugose, short and crescent-shaped; premaxillary teeth villiform, forming a plate slightly curved; palatine teeth in two pairs of patches, an anterior subquadrate pair and a posterior elongated pair, the anterior one wider and continuous with the posterior patch; no gill-rakers on posterior (inner) face of the first and second branchial arches; total number of anterior gill-rakers: on 1st arch 17-22, on 2nd arch 18-23 . Dorsal and pectoral fins with a strong serrated, erectile spine; adipose fin well developed . : fusiform / normal; Cross section: circular.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Rough-head sea catfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range ? - 70 m , usually ? - 30 m . Tropical; 21°N - 17°S, 26°W - 11°E
🌿 Ecology
fish, benthic invertebrates, zooplankton and detritus (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- pain
- oedema
- rare systemic effects
Wound care, analgesia.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Carlarius Latiscutatus is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 17.3 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 245 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Rough-head sea catfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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