Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Plotosidae (Eeltail catfishes)
Etymology: Paraplotosus: Greek, para = in the side of + Greek, plotos = swimming (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Valenciennes.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 12 m (Ref. 90102). Tropical
Indo-West Pacific: Indo-Australian Archipelago.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 134 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2334); common length : 40.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9801)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 104 - 115; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 90 - 100. Differs from Paraplotosus butleri in having a shorter dorsal fin and shorter nasal barbels, rounded pectoral fin shape, fewer upper procurrent caudal fin rays, and fewer gill rakers. Differs from P. muelleri in having a shorter dorsal fin and smaller eye (Ref. 31103). Color highly variable, ranging from pale grey or yellowish brown to dark brown, nearly blackish, sometimes with pronounced dark mottling; generally whitish on belly and ventral part of head; fins brown to blackish, frequently darker than body (Ref. 31103).
In tropical areas, inhabits clear and turbid coral reefs; usually found in areas with mixed sand, weed, and coral areas (Ref. 31103). May be seen resting on sand bottoms under ledges or around coral bommies (Ref. 31103). Adults solitarily or in small groups. Presumably nocturnal (Ref. 31103). Feeds on gastropod mollusks and crustaceans (Ref. 31103). Spines associated with anterior fins have potent venom (Ref. 9801).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Allen, G.R., 1998. A review of the marine catfish genus Paraplotosus (Plotosidae) with the description of a new species from north-western Australia. Raf. Bull. Zool. 46(1):123-134. (Ref. 31103)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 24.2 - 29.3, mean 28.5 °C (based on 2310 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00468 (0.00209 - 0.01049), b=3.06 (2.86 - 3.26), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.54 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (80 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 26.6 [11.5, 53.2] mg/100g; Iron = 0.437 [0.248, 0.789] mg/100g; Protein = 17.4 [15.5, 19.6] %; Omega3 = 0.0738 [, ] g/100g; Selenium = 37.8 [19.2, 80.7] μg/100g; VitaminA = 42.4 [14.3, 124.5] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.12 [0.77, 1.59] mg/100g (wet weight); based on
nutrient studies.
