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

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.
 

Fig 1 : Seen in a clear  forest stream, Singapore.

Fig 2 : This specimen, from a shallow forest stream on Pulau Sugi, Riau Archipelago, Indonesia, exhibits vibrant patterning.

Fig 3 : Full-grown specimen from freshwater swamp forest, Singapore.


References :

Lim, K.P. and Ng, K.L. 1990. A Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre.