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Catfish (Amblyceps mangois) — Amblycipitidae

Catfish

Amblyceps mangois
LC · Least Concern

The Catfish (Amblyceps mangois) is a freshwater fish of the family Amblycipitidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
12.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
South and Southeast Asia
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The Indian torrent catfish is a small catfish from fast-flowing hill and mountain streams of South and Southeast Asia, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The species grows to about 13 cm and has smooth, scaleless skin, four pairs of barbels and an adipose fin. By day it shelters among stones and gravel and at night it hunts insect larvae and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Catfish?

The Catfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Scaleless skin, four pairs of barbels and an adipose fin; inhabitant of mountain streams

Where does the Catfish live?

The Catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. South and Southeast Asia

How big does the Catfish get?

The Catfish grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Catfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Catfish edible?

The Catfish is rarely eaten.

More photos

Catfish (Amblyceps mangois) — Amblycipitidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Ankur Nandi, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Catfish (Amblyceps mangois) — Amblycipitidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Francis Day (Public domain)
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All data

Identification

English name
Catfish verified
Scientific name
Amblyceps mangois
Family
Amblycipitidae
Other names
Catfish; Indian torrent catfish; Torrent catfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
South and Southeast Asia verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Insect larvae and small invertebrates inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Small mountain-stream catfish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Scaleless skin, four pairs of barbels and an adipose fin; inhabitant of mountain streams sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Amblyceps

More from the family Amblycipitidae

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