Bagarius lica Volz, 1903
photo by Jean-Francois Helias / Fishing Adventures Thailand

Family:  Sisoridae (Sisorid catfishes), subfamily: Sisorinae
Max. size:  200 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater, potamodromous
Distribution:  Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia (Borneo, Sumatra), Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Adults occur in large rivers on the bottom, even with swift current (Ref. 12693). They never enter small streams (Ref. 37770). Found among boulders, often in the white water of the rapids where it apparently is indifferent to the strong current. Feed primarily on prawns but will take small fishes and aquatic insects (Ref. 6868). Spawn in rivers before the rainy season (Ref. 12693). Migrate in schools. Reported to migrate to follow its prey. Also reported that individuals follow Catlocarpio siamensis during the upstream migration (Ref. 37770). Apparently the main upstream migration begins close to the peak of flood when the current is very strong and the water is turbid (Ref. 37770). Sold fresh in markets. Not a highly esteemed food fish, because its fibrous flesh spoils rapidly and can cause illness (Ref. 12693).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2022 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.