Plotosus lineatus, commonly known as the striped eel catfish, is a species of catfish belonging to the eeltail family Plotosidae. Like most other members of the genus, this species possesses highly venomous spines that can be used to sting when threatened; the venom can cause mild to severe symptoms in humans. This species is native to the Indo-Pacific but is now present in the Mediterranean via Lessepsian migration through the Suez Canal.
Plotosus lineatus can reach a maximum length of 32cm (13in),[3] and the body is brown with cream-colored or white longitudinal bands. The second dorsal, caudal and anal fins are fused together as in eels, but the rest of the body is quite similar to that of a freshwater catfish. The mouth is surrounded by four pairs of barbels, four on the upper jaw and four on the lower jaw. Each of the first dorsal and the pectoral fins has a highly venomous spine.[3]
Plotosus lineatus occurs in the Indo-Pacific; this includes the western Pacific (e.g. Singapore). Since 2002, it has been recorded in the eastern Mediterranean Sea as well, and is now common from Levantine waters to the Gulf of Gabes.[4][5] It sometimes enters freshwater ecosystems in East Africa and Madagascar.[3][6]
Habitat
Plotosus lineatus is found mainly in coral reefs. It is also found in estuaries, tide pools and open coasts.[3]
Behavior and reproduction
Juveniles of Plotosus lineatus form dense ball-shaped schools of about 100 fish, while adults are solitary or occur in smaller groups of around 20 and are known to hide under ledges during the day.[3] Adults search and stir the sand incessantly for crustaceans, mollusks, worms, and sometimes fish.[3]
Plotosus lineatus is an oviparous fish; the eggs are demersal and upon hatching, fries become a part of zooplankton.
Venom
Plotosus lineatus has venomous spines on their fins that they use to sting for self-defense. Their skin also possess cells that secrete venom. The venom is composed of crinotoxins and plototoxins, which are mainly hemolytic but are also edema-forming, nociceptive, and tetanic. Symptoms from P. lineatus stings range from mild to severe, and include extreme pain, dizziness, erythema, edema, necrosis, numbness, vomiting, muscle spasms, respiratory distress, shock, and sepsis. Though dangerous to humans, with many envenomation incidents happening when fishermen are trying to handle the fish caught in their nets,[7][8] no death has actually been recorded from stinging.[citation needed] The sting is known to be lethal to fish, crabs, and rodents in laboratory tests. Most
Invasiveness
In Europe, P. lineatus is included since 2019 in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern (the Union list).[9] This implies that this species cannot be imported, bred, transported, commercialized, or intentionally released into the environment in the whole of the European Union.[10]
In popular culture
The fish is known in Israel as "Nasrallah fish" after the Lebanese cleric and political figure Hassan Nasrallah.[11]
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