SCOTCAT.COM  

your internet guide to all things catfish
≡
  • HOME
  • FACTSHEETS
    • By Month/Year
    • By Family
    • by Genus
    • by Common Names
    • By Specific Names
    • By Continent
      • Index
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australasia
      • Europe
      • North America
      • South America
  • GALLERIES
    • Photo Gallery
    • Art Gallery
    • Movie Gallery
    • Stamps Gallery
  • FAMILIES
    • A-B
      • Ailiidae
      • Akysidae
      • Amblycipitidae
      • Amphiliidae
      • Anchariidae
      • † Andinichthyidae
      • Ariidae
      • Aspredinidae
      • Astroblepidae
      • Auchenipteridae
      • Auchenoglanididae
      • Austroglanididae
      • Bagridae
    • C-D
      • Callichthyidae
      • Cetopsidae
      • Chacidae
      • Clariidae
      • Claroteidae
      • Cranoglanididae
      • Diplomystidae
      • Doradidae
    • H-I
      • Heptapteridae
      • Heteropneustidae
      • Horabagridae
      • Ictaluridae
    • K-L-M
      • Kryptoglanidae
      • Lacantuniidae
      • Loricariidae
      • Malapteruridae
      • Mochokidae
    • N-P
      • Nematogenyidae
      • Pangasiidae
      • Phreatobiidae
      • Pimelodidae
      • Plotosidae
      • Pseudopimelodidae
    • R-S-T
      • Ritidae
      • Schilbeidae
      • Scoloplacidae
      • Siluridae
      • Sisoridae
      • Trichomycteridae
  • ARTICLES
    • Index
    • Breeding
    • By Author
    • Cat-Articles
    • General
    • Numbered List
    • Ichthyology
    • Travel/Collecting
  • IDENT-A-CAT
  • RESOURCES
    • Citation
    • Etymology
    • Fishhouse
    • Glossary
    • Scientific Papers
    • ScotShop
  • SITE MAP
  • FB GROUP
  • HELP
    • Index
    • Catfish Anatomy
    • Convertors
    • FAQ
    • Ident-A-Cat
    • Water Chemistry

Heteropneustes fuscus Plamoottil, 2021

 

Image contributors to this species:

Dr. Mathews Plamoottil (3)

ScotCat Sources:

Etymology = Genus  Etymology = Specific name

Other Sources:

Search  Wikipedia  Catalog of Fishes  iNaturalist

Relevant Information:

Abstract: Heteropneustes fuscus (Siluriformes: Heteropneustidae), a new catfish species from Kerala, India. Biodiversitas 22: 87-98. Heteropneustes fuscus, a new catfish species, is described from Kerala, India; it is a close congener of Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1794) described from Tranquebar in Tamil Nadu. Heteropneustes fuscus has been misidentified as H. fossilis until now, but it differs from Bloch's species in colour and many other rigid taxonomic variables. The new species can be distinguished from its relative species in the following combination of characters: deep black body and fins, 4-5 branched dorsal-fin soft rays, 72-75 anal fin rays, 58-60 total vertebrae, 26-32 total gill rakers; deeper and wider body; deeper caudal peduncle; greater pre occipital and post occipital distances and longer anal fin. The new fish is edible and found in freshwater rivers, streams, ponds and paddy fields in Kerala. It is also cultivated in some artificial impoundments. Heteropneustes fuscus is compared with its congeners, scientifically named and taxonomically described, (Plamoottil, 2021). Reproduction: Breeds in confined waters during the monsoon months, but can breed in ponds, derelict ponds and ditches when sufficient  rain-water accumulates. Oviparous, distinct pairing possibly like other members of the same family. Aquarium Care: Apart from giving it the utmost respect when handling, it does very well in a larger aquarium, and you can either keep it alone with other inhabitants that are too big for its mouth (large Barbs, Cichlids etc.) or in a group situation if you would like the challenge of breeding them. A sand substrate is best with hiding places of rock and cave work and making sure that it has plenty of swimming space, as they do like to cruise the tank during the night time hours. Keep your regular water changes up with good filtration as they are a greedy species, and can make a mess of your aquarium if good husbandry is not adhered to. Diet: Omnivorous. Etymology: The specific name fuscus: Taken from Latin (fuscus meaning-dark); it refers to the black coloured body and fins of the new species. Update 2021: The genus Heteropneustes has now been removed from the Clariidae family and reinstated to the Heteropneustidae Hora, 1936 and H. microps has been deemed to be a synonym of H. fossilis.

Common Name:

Travancore Black Stinging Catfish

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Heteropneustidae

Distribution:

Asia: Peninsular India: Kerala.

Size:

23.0cm. (9ins)

Temp:

21-25°C (69-77°F)

p.H.

6.0-8.0.

Reference:

Plamoottil, Mathews 2021 Heteropneustes fuscus (Siluriformes: Heteropneustidae), a new catfish species from Kerala, India. Biodiversitas Volume 23, Number 1, January 2022, Pages: 87-98.



Back to Family page

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

Click for full imageHeteropneustes fuscus
Holotype
Click for full imageHeteropneustes fuscus
Holotype-dorsal view
Click for full imageHeteropneustes fuscus
Holotype-ventral view

 

If you would like to contribute to the monthly factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail me. You will of course be credited for your work.

 

Donate towards my web hosting bill!

 

If you would like to donate any denomination of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few years yet.

  • Facebook about us + contact us + citation + translate + site map + scotshop + glossary + etymology +
  • help YouTube

©2025 SCOTCAT.COM