Silver Catfish, Porochilus argenteus (Zietz 1896)
Silver Catfish, Porochilus argenteus. Source: Dave Wilson / Aquagreen. License: All rights reserved
Silver Catfish, Porochilus argenteus (Zietz 1896)
More Info
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Distribution |
Known only from throughout the Lake Eyre drainage and Lake Woods, NT; tropical; benthic; usually inhabiting turbid waterholes of larger rivers over sand or rock bottoms. |
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Features |
Meristic features: Dorsal fin I, 4; 2nd Dorsal + Caudal + Anal finrays 120; Pectoral fin I, 7.
Body slender, tapering posteriorly; head broad, flattened; head-snout profile concave; eyes relatively low set on side of head; tail pointed; lateral line continuous; anterior nostrils above upper lip. Scales absent, body covered in smooth skin. First dorsal small, with one sharp spine and 4 soft rays; 2nd dorsal fin confluent with anal and caudal fins, originating near posterior-most part of body; caudodorsal fin base length less than 10% of SL. |
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Size |
Maximum size to 35 cm, commonly to 20 cm. |
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Colour |
Pale, silvery-white overall with yellowish-orange fins. |
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Feeding |
Likely to feed on molluscs, crustaceans, insects and worms. |
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Biology |
Little is known of the biology of this species. The species likely spawns during flooding and undertakes substantial migrations, either as adults and/or juveniles. Individual fish can be sexed by the shape of their urogenital papilla: those of females are short and flat, whereas in males, the papilla is longer and pointed. |
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Species Citation |
Plotosus argenteus Zietz 1896, Report Horn Scientific expedition. Part 2. Zoology. London: 410. Type locality: Cooper Creek near Innamincka, central Australia. |
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Author |
Martin F. Gomon |
Silver Catfish, Porochilus argenteus (Zietz 1896)
References
Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Neptune, New Jersey : T.F.H. Publications 240 pp., 63 pls.
Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp.
Burgess, W.E. 1989. An Atlas of Freshwater and Marine Catfishes — a preliminary survey of the Siluriformes. Neptune City, New Jersey : T.F.H. Publications 783 pp.
Hammer, M.P. & Walker, K.F. 2004. A catalogue of South Australian freshwater fishes, including new records, range extensions and translocations. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 128(2): 85-97.
Hoese, D.F. & Gates, J.E. 2006. Plotosidae. pp. 357-365 in Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp.
Huey JA, Baker AM, Hughes JM (2006) Patterns of gene flow in two species of eel-tailed catfish, Neosilurus hyrtlii and Porochilus argenteus (Siluriformes: Plotosidae), in western Queensland's dryland rivers. Biol J Linn Soc 87: 457–467. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2006.00590.x
Larson, H.K. & Martin, K.C. 1990. Freshwater Fishes of the Northern Territory. Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences Handbook Series Number 1. Darwin : Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences 102 pp. 73 figs.
Leggett, R. & Merrick, J.R. 1987. Australian Native Fishes for Aquariums. Artarmon : J.R. Merrick Publications 241 pp. 142 figs.
Merrick, J.R. & Schmida, G.E. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes Biology and Management. Sydney : J.R. Merrick 409 pp. figs 280 col. figs.
Pollard, D.A, Davis, T.L.O. & Llewellyn, L.C. 1996. Family Plotosidae: Eel-tailed catfishes. pp. 109-113 in McDowall, R.M. (ed.). Freshwater Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Sydney : Reed Books 247 pp.
Unmack, P.J. 2001. Biogeography of Australian freshwater fishes. Journal of Biogeography 28: 1053-1089
Unmack, P.J. 2001. Corrected identifications and lectotype designation for Porochilus argenteus (Zietz) (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes: Plotosidae). Records of the South Australian Museum 34(1): 57-59
Wager, R. & Unmack, P.J. 2000. Fishes of the Lake Eyre Catchment of Central Australia. Brisbane : Department of Primary Industries and Queensland Fisheries Service 88 pp.
Zietz A.H.C. (1896) Description of an additional new species of fish from the Finke and Barcoo Rivers pp 410-411 in Spencer B. (ed) Report on the work of the Horn Scientific expedition to central Australia. Part 2. Zoology. London
