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Cryptarius truncatus (Valenciennes, 1840)

Image contributors to this species:

Jean-Francois Helias (5) Jorge Garcia (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: The genus Cryptarius can be distinguished by the following exclusive (1 to 5) characters:(1) vomer arrow shaped; (2) epioccipital posterior process contacting median crest associated with neural spine of fourth vertebra; (3) anterior part of interopercle very long and pointed; (4) anterior part of metapterygoid contacting quadrate through an indented articulation, most of the remaining part of this bone simply contacting the quadrate. (5) posterior portion of second basibranchial very wide; (6) mesethmoid moderately thick at median portion. Habitat: Found in estuaries and lower courses of rivers from the Chao Phrya to Sumatra and Java, including the lower Mekong. The species can be quite abundant at times. Feeds on fishes and crustaceans. Caught with trawls, seines, traps and hook-and-line. Marketed fresh. Etymology: The genus name Cryptarius: kryptos, hidden or secret, i.e., a cryptic Arius, referring to its unique combination of characters having been ignored for a such a long time. The specific name truncatus: referring to truncate (or spoon-shaped) snout.

Common Name:

Spoonsnouted catfish

Synonyms:

Arius truncatus, Hemipimelodus cochlearis

Family:

Ariidae

Distribution:

South and southeast Asia: Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia. Type locality: Java, Indonesia.

Size:

42.0cm. TL (18ins)

Temp:

26-29°c (79-85°f)

p.H.

7.0-8.5.

Reference:

Marceniuk, Alexandre P.; Menezes, Naércio A. (2007). "Systematics of the family Ariidae (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes), with a redefinition of the genera" Zootaxa 1416: 1–126.
Rainboth, W.J. 1996 Fishes of the Cambodian Mekong. FAO Species Identification Field Guide for Fishery Purposes. FAO, Rome, 265 p.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

Family: Ariidae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Cryptarius truncatus
Showing the spoon shaped snout

Cryptarius truncatus

Cryptarius truncatus
Head view

Cryptarius truncatus

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