Crucifix sea catfish
📖 Overview
Inhabits mainly brackish estuaries and lagoons. Occurs also in freshwaters . Found on shallow muddy bottoms . Feeds on fish and shrimps. Two annual cycles of slower growth occur during the dry seasons (March and August to November). Life span is three to four years. Sexually mature at 1.5 to 2 years of age. Reproduction takes place from November to April. Consumed as food . Marketed fresh. The skull is sold throughout the world as crucifix.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 1. The head is more or less flattened, the nostril nearly rounded, mouth inferior. There are three pairs of barbels, 1 pair of maxillary barbel and 2 pairs of mandibular barbels.: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Crucifix sea catfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Pairing involved in reproduction. Mouth brooding may be employed .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal. Tropical; 13°N - 11°S, 77°W - 35°W
🌿 Ecology
fish and shrimps
📐 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
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Crucifix sea 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 | 17.3 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 169 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Crucifix sea 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)
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | crucifex catfish · Crucifix sea catfish |
| 🌍CES | křížovec karibský |
| 🇫🇷French | Mâchoiron crucifix |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Christusvis |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Bagre-marinho-crucifixo · Uritinga |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Белый морской сом |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arius proops | Valenciennes | 1840 | Synonym |
| Bagrus albicans | Valenciennes | 1840 | Synonym |
| Bagrus proops | Valenciennes | 1840 | Synonym |
| Galeichthys proops | Valenciennes | 1840 | Synonym |
| Hexanematichthys proops | Valenciennes | 1840 | Synonym |
| Sciadeichthys proops | Valenciennes | 1840 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 78 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Crucifix sea catfish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.