Amur catfish
📖 Overview
Commercially cultured in Japan. Adults feed on all types of fish . Recorded as having been or being farmed in rice fields .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 4; Anal soft rays: 67 - 84. The side of the dorsal is dark grey; white stomach; with irregular white dots on the side. One pair of maxillary barbel, longer than the head; one pair of mandibular barbels, about 1/5-1/3 the length of the maxillary barbel .: elongated; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Amur catfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
S. asotus are carnivorous fishes and primarily feed on aquatic organisms. Due to the anatomy of S. asotus, the fish have the ability to sink to the bottom of the water and find food more easily. Amur catfish eat aquatic insects, crustaceans, and smaller fishes in their freshwater ecosystem. With the diverse diet selections, S. asotus is able to expand its mouth in order to accommodate larger prey. S. asotus are nocturnal creatures which affects their feeding times. The fishes feed during the night and go back to their caves during the day. This nocturnal feed is linked to poor floating ability due to bladder enlargement that only allows for swimming in freshwater's floors.
🥚 Reproduction
Pairs manifest spawning embrace widely observed in other catfish species . Details of reproductive behaviour from Katano, et al (1988): " A male first energeticaly pursued a female with its head near to the female's belly (chasing) and then began to cling to the female's body from the side, bending its tail or head (clinging). Finally the male enfolded the female's body, with its anus near to the female's (enfolding). In some cases, 2-4 males pursued a single female and two males enfolded a female at the same time. Although no aggressive behaviour was evident between males, it was always the largest male that could almost frequently approach and enfold the female. The mating pair moved a long distance in a ditch, paddy field and/or creek, performing reproductive activities." The scattering of eggs may reduce the incidence of death of the young.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; demersal. Temperate; 5°C - 25°C ; 53°N - 23°N, 95°E - 143°E
🌿 Ecology
all types of fish (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Amur 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
Detailed nutritional data for Amur catfish is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Amur 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)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Amur Catfish · Chinese Catfish · Japanese Catfish · Japanese Common Catfish |
| 🌍CES | sumec amurský |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Amurmalle |
| 🇩🇪German | Amur-Wels · Amurwels |
| 🌍FAS | گربهماهی آمور |
| 🇫🇷French | Silure asote |
| 🇮🇹Italian | siluro dell'Amur |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Namazu · ナマズ · ナマズ (Namazu) |
| 🇰🇷Korean | 메 기 |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Sum amurski |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Амурский сом |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Siluro del Amur · Silurus asotus |
| 🌍TUR | Amur yayın balığı |
| 🌍UKR | Сом амурський |
| 🌍VIE | cá nheo · Cá nheo sông Amur |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 廉仔 · 念仔魚 · 念仔鱼 · 花鯰 · 鯤魚 · 鯰 · 鯰的異名 · 鯰魚 · 鲇 · 鲇鱼 · 黃骨魚 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centranodon japonicus | Lacepède | 1803 | Synonym |
| Parasilurus asotus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Parasilurus asotus asotus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Parasilurus asotus longus | Wu | 1930 | Synonym |
| Parasilurus japonicus | Temminck & Schlegel | 1846 | Synonym |
| Silurichthys basilewskii | Bleeker | 1858 | Synonym |
| Siluris imberbis | Gmelin | 1789 | Synonym |
| Silurus bedfordi | Regan | 1908 | Synonym |
| Silurus cinereus | Dabry de Thiersant | 1872 | Synonym |
| Silurus dahuricus | Pallas | 1787 | Synonym |
| Silurus dauuricus | Pallas | 1787 | Synonym |
| Silurus japonicus | Temminck & Schlegel | 1846 | Synonym |
| Silurus punctatus | Cantor | 1842 | Heterotypic |
| Silurus spec | Linnæus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Silurus xanthosteus | Richardson | 1845 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 162 records indexed .
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