Ridged catfish

📖 Overview

Ridged catfish (Neoarius hainesi), first described by Kailola, 2000 is a medium-sized fish in the family Ariidae (order Siluriformes). Adults typically reach 32.00 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; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 20 - 23; Vertebrae: 49 - 50. Palate without teeth (but autogenous tooth plates present); jaw teeth slender, in short, oblong band. Lips fleshy, thin; mouth small, lower jaw truncate. Barbels thin, short, maxillary barbel reaching only just beyond eye; base of chin barbels close together. Eye large, 14-24% HL, lateral. Dorsomedian head groove elongate, deep posteriorly. Gill rakers along posterior of all arches; gill opening slightly restricted; two large epithelial flaps on palate posteriorly and double folds on upper limb of first two gill arches. Longitudinal furrows anterodorsally on body. Fin spines thin, long, slender; adipose fin short-based, over posterior two-thirds of anal; ventral fin pad of sexually mature females scalloped and tapered. Dark grey above and iridescent purple; palate and branchial chamber often purplish brown to charcoal .

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Ridged catfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; brackish; demersal. Tropical Central Pacific: southern New Guinea and northern Australia.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

⚠️ Venom Profile

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

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute