Philippine catfish
📖 Overview
Facultative air-breathing ; Adults inhabit lowland streams , swamps, ponds, ditches, rice paddies, and pools left in low spots after rivers have been in flood . Usually confined to stagnant, muddy water . Found in medium to large-sized rivers, flooded fields and stagnant water bodies including sluggish flowing canals . Undertake lateral migrations from the Mekong mainstream, or other permanent water bodies, to flooded areas during the flood season and returns to the permanent water bodies at the onset of the dry season . Can live out of water for quite sometime and move short distances over land . Can walk and leave the water to migrate to other water bodies using its auxiliary breathing organs. The Lao use this fish as lap pa or ponne pa. Feed on insect larvae, earthworms, shells, shrimps, small fish, aquatic plants and debris . An important food fish that is marketed live, fresh and frozen . Recently rare, being replaced by introduced African walking catfish .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 60 - 76; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 47 - 58. Body compressed posteriorly. Upper jaw a little projecting. Spine of pectoral fins rough on its outer edge and serrated on its inner edge . Occipital process more or less triangular, its length about 2 time in its width ; distance between dorsal and occipital process 4-5.5 times in distance from tip of snout to end of occipital process . Genital papilla in males is elongated and pointed .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Philippine catfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
The pair manifests the 'spawning embrace' which is widely observed in other catfish species . The pair gently nudge each other in the genital region and flick their dorsal fins; male wraps his body around the female, then the female releases a stream of adhesive eggs into the nest . In southeast Asia, spawning period is during the rainy season, when rivers rise and fish are able to excavate nests in submerged mud banks and dikes of flooded rice fields .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; brackish; demersal; potamodromous; depth range 1 - ? m . Tropical; 10°C - 28°C ; 29°N - 7°S
🌿 Ecology
insect larvae, earthworms, shells, shrimps, small fish, aquatic plants and debris (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🚨 Invasive Species Impact
- competition with native species
- habitat modification
- management and control costs
- fishery impacts in some areas
Prevention of further spread through import bans, targeted removal in sensitive areas.
Monitoring and containment programs in place.
References: Compiled from IUCN Global Invasive Species Database, USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database, and CABI Invasive Species Compendium.
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Philippine catfish 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 | 16.7 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 134 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Philippine 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Philippine Catfish · Walking Catfish · clarias catfish |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | قرموط الكلاريس |
| 🌍BEN | কৈ · মাগুর |
| 🌍CES | keříčkovec žabí |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Den gående malle · Vandremalle |
| 🇩🇪German | Froschwels |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Konnamonni |
| 🇫🇷French | Silure grenouille |
| 🌍HIN | Wagur · माँगुर |
| 🌍IND | Ikan Lele · Lele Jawa · Lele Kampung |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | ウォーキングキャットフィッシュ |
| 🌍KHM | ត្រីអណ្តែងរឹង |
| 🌍MSA | Ikan Keli Kayu |
| 🌍MYA | ငါးခူ |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Clarias batrachus |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Peixe-gato-andador |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Лягушковый клариевый сом · Промысловый клариас |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Pez gato caminador |
| 🌍TEL | మార్పు (చేప) |
| 🌍THA | ปลาดุกด้าน |
| 🌍UKR | Кларій ходячий |
| 🌍VIE | Cá trê trắng |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 土殺 · 土虱 · 塘虱魚 · 念仔魚 · 本土鯰 · 泰國土虱 · 泰國鯰 · 蟾鬍鯰 · 鰱仔 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarias assamensis | Day | 1877 | Synonym |
| Clarias betrachus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Clarias marpus | Valenciennes | 1840 | Synonym |
| Clarias punctatus | Valenciennes | 1840 | Synonym |
| Clarius bartrachus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Clarius batrachus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Plotosus hamiltonii | Swainson | 1839 | Synonym |
| Silurus batrachus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 70 records indexed .
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