Blacktip sea catfish | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Ariidae |
Genus: | Plicofollis |
Species: | P. dussumieri |
Binomial name | |
Plicofollis dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1840) | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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The blacktip sea catfish (Plicofollis dussumieri), also known as Dussumier's catfish, giant marine cat fish, Shupanga sea catfish, and tropical seacatfish, [3] is a species of catfish in the family Ariidae. [4] It was described by Achille Valenciennes in 1840, originally under the genus Arius . [2] It inhabits rivers and marine waters ranging between Africa and India in the Indo-western Pacific. [1] It dwells at a depth range of 20 to 50 m (70 to 160 ft). It reaches a maximum standard length of 62 cm (24 in), and a maximum weight of 1.4 kg (3 lb 1 oz). [4]
The blacktip sea catfish feeds on finfish and benthic invertebrates. [5] It is harvested for its meat, which is marketed both fresh and dried-salted. Due to a lack of known significant threats to the species, it is currently ranked as Least Concern by the IUCN redlist. [1]