Bleeker's catfish
📖 Overview
Bleeker's catfish (Hemiarius bleekeri), first described by Popta, 1900 is a medium-sized fish in the family Ariidae (order Siluriformes). Adults typically reach 17.00 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. It occurs in Tropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator. The species is venomous and potentially dangerous to handle.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal soft rays: 22 - 25. Teardrop-shaped dorsomedian head groove, tapering to a point at the base of the supraoccipital process; high keel. Mouth gape 45-49% of HL. Maxillary barbels 38 - 43% of SL. Gill rakers absent on hind aspect of first 2 gill arches. Dorsal fin spine equal to 4/5 of HL.: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Bleeker's catfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; demersal. Tropical
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
📊 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
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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