Home  
—————————  
   
Southeast Asia
 vertebrates ...
 
   
Mammals
Mammals - Bats
Snakes
Lizards & Crocodilians
Turtles
Amphibians
Fishes - Freshwater
Fishes - Brackish

 
 
Papua New Guinea vertebrates ...  
   
Snakes
Lizards
Frogs

Species Lists
 
—————————  
Articles & Publications  
—————————  
News Archives  
—————————  
Singapore sightings
Feedback
Image policy
 
—————————  


Text and photos by
Nick Baker, unless otherwise stated

 EcologyAsia 2010
Copyright ©

 
 
   

 

 
   
Forest Walking Catfish
   

Seen in a clear  forest stream, Singapore.
 

This specimen, from a shallow forest stream on Pulau Sugi, Riau Archipelago, Indonesia, exhibits vibrant patterning.
 

Family : CLARIIDAE
Species : Clarias leiacanthus
Maximum Length : 33 cm

References : F1

The Forest Walking Catfish is a species of forest streams where it often lies concealed amongst leaf litter and other debris. As with most catfish it feeds on benthic organisms.

In this species there is a gap between the start of the dorsal fin and the reddish-brown, exposed bony plates of the skull. The dorsal fin extends along most of the vertebral line, but is not fused with the small, rounded tail fin. The flanks are olive-brown and are adorned with vertical lines of pale spots. The four pairs of barbels are long, straight and stiff.

The species occurs in a number of Southeast Asian countries including Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.