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🌊 Marine 🌡️ Tropical

Sailfin catfish

Paraplotosus butleri Allen, 1998
Max Length
32.5 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.4
Depth
0–5 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
33.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Restricted to coastal reefs . Secretive, found in reef holes or under large rocks . Presumably nocturnal . Feeds on gastropod mollusks and crustaceans .

Scientific Name
Paraplotosus butleri
Authority
Allen, 1998
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Elongated
Max Length
32.5 cm
Depth Range
0–5 m
Trophic Level
3.4
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
33.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 115 - 130; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 87 - 102. Differs from Paraplotosus albilabris and P. muelleri in having a tall, sail-like first dorsal fin and extremely long nasal barbels, which extend posteriorly to the basal third of the pectoral fin or beyond . Small juveniles have a unique coloration consisting of a black head and body with a broad white to yellow margin on the first dorsal fin and continuous dorsal-caudal-anal fin . Adults entirely black .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Sailfin catfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 5 m . Tropical West Pacific: northern Australia.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
3.4±0.54
🌙 Nocturnal
Food Items

gastropod mollusks and crustaceans (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00468 × L3.06 (TL)
Max TL
32.5cm
Dorsal Spines
1
Dorsal Rays
123
Anal Rays
95

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
33.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.4
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Allen, 1998

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 3 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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