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🌊 Marine 🍽️ Edible ⚠️ Venomous ⚡ Traumatogenic 🌡️ Subtropical

White sea catfish

Genidens barbus Lacepède, 1803
Max Length
120 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
36 yrs
Trophic Level
3.8
Depth
8–33 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
69.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Males carry the eggs in their mouth . Depth range based on occurrence ; to be replaced with a better reference.

Scientific Name
Genidens barbus
Authority
Lacepède, 1803
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Max Length
120 cm
Lifespan
36 years
Depth Range
8–33 m
Trophic Level
3.8
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
69.00/100
Migration
Oceanodromous
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 14 - 15. Body dark blue dorsally, silvery white ventrally. Dorsal fin, adipose fin, soft ray of pectoral fin and maxillary barbel dark blue. Posterior margins of caudal and anal fins slightly blackish .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for White sea catfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

Size at Maturity
41.5cm TL

Males carry the eggs in their mouth .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; brackish; demersal; oceanodromous ; depth range 8 - 33 m . Subtropical; 4°S - 37°S, 61°W - 34°W Southwest Atlantic: Atlantic coast from La Plata basin to eastern Brazil.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🌿 Brackish ⬇️ Benthic
Migration
Oceanodromous
Trophic Level
3.8±0.4

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00759 × L3.07 (TL)
Max TL
120cm
Dorsal Spines
1
Dorsal Rays
7
Anal Rays
15

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
69.00/100
High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.8
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Lacepède, 1803

⚠️ 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

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"White sea catfish is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • 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
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 18.4 g
Omega-3 (total) 342 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for White sea catfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 5 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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View all observations for White sea catfish ↗
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