Slender Walking Catfish (Clarias nieuhofii)
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A Slender Walking Catfish found resting in a shallow forest stream. |
Family: Clariidae
Species Name: Clarias nieuhofii
Common Name: Slender Walking Catfish
Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Freshwater forest streams
Conservation Status: Endangered (Red Data Book 3)
The most threatened of the three walking catfishes native to Singapore, it is restricted to the Nee Soon Swamp Forest and its surroundings. This species is similar in size to the Common Walking Catfish (Clarias batrachus), reaching a maximum of around 50cm. It has spots similar to the other two walking catfishes but it has a eel-like build fitting its common name.
Like all walking catfishes, they have the ability to breathe air and even travel short distances on land to search for new water bodies. This nocturnal predatory fish feeds by sifting through sediment with its sensitive barbels, searching for prey such as smaller amphibians, fishes and invertebrates.
It looks similar to the Forest Walking Catfish (Clarias leiacanthus), which occurs in the same habitats and the two species can even be seen swimming together with each other. The Slender Walking Catfish has less pointier occipital process (the head's bony plates) and its tail is fused on varying levels to the dorsal and anal fins, unlike the Forest Walking Catfish.
If established in its habitat, the invasive African Sharptooth Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) can outcompete it due to its much larger size and voracious nature.
Common Name: Slender Walking Catfish
Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Freshwater forest streams
Conservation Status: Endangered (Red Data Book 3)
The most threatened of the three walking catfishes native to Singapore, it is restricted to the Nee Soon Swamp Forest and its surroundings. This species is similar in size to the Common Walking Catfish (Clarias batrachus), reaching a maximum of around 50cm. It has spots similar to the other two walking catfishes but it has a eel-like build fitting its common name.
Like all walking catfishes, they have the ability to breathe air and even travel short distances on land to search for new water bodies. This nocturnal predatory fish feeds by sifting through sediment with its sensitive barbels, searching for prey such as smaller amphibians, fishes and invertebrates.
It looks similar to the Forest Walking Catfish (Clarias leiacanthus), which occurs in the same habitats and the two species can even be seen swimming together with each other. The Slender Walking Catfish has less pointier occipital process (the head's bony plates) and its tail is fused on varying levels to the dorsal and anal fins, unlike the Forest Walking Catfish.
If established in its habitat, the invasive African Sharptooth Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) can outcompete it due to its much larger size and voracious nature.
References
- Lim, K.P. and Ng, K.L. 1990. A Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre.
- Lim, K.K.P. 2013. African sharp-toothed walking catfish at Upper Seletar. Singapore Biodiversity Records, 2013: 107. National University of Singapore.
- National Parks Board (NParks). Freshwater Fishes. Retrieved from https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nature/species-list/freshwater-fishes.
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