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Smoothspine butter catfish (Ompok leiacanthus) — Siluridae

Smoothspine butter catfish

Ompok leiacanthus
Family: Siluridae

The Smoothspine butter catfish (Ompok leiacanthus) is a freshwater fish of the family Siluridae that grows up to 19 cm.

Length
19 cm
Water
Freshwater
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The smoothspine butter catfish is a catfish (Siluridae) from fresh water of Sundaland in Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a flattened, laterally compressed, silver-grey body with two long barbels, a large mouth and no or a strongly reduced dorsal fin. As a nocturnal fish it hovers in slow-flowing rivers and flooded forests and hunts insects, shrimp and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Smoothspine butter catfish?

The Smoothspine butter catfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Smoothspine butter catfish live?

The Smoothspine butter catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Smoothspine butter catfish get?

The Smoothspine butter catfish grows to a maximum of about 19 cm.

Is the Smoothspine butter catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Smoothspine butter catfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gladstekel-botermeerval sourced
English name
Smoothspine butter catfish sourced
Scientific name
Ompok leiacanthus
Family
Siluridae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
19.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Ompok

More from the family Siluridae

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