SCOTCAT.COM

your internet guide to all things catfish

Pterocryptis wynaadensis (Day, 1873)

Image contributors to this species:

Beta Mahatvaraj (3) Nikhil Sood (1) sumanjumani (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: Differs from from other species in this genera by having three pairs of barbels, one pair of maxillary and two pairs of mandibular. Habitat: Inhabits fast flowing river, canals and streams (mostly hides in holes on rocks). It is nocturnal and highly reclusive during the day hiding in pools (Gopi and Radhakrishnan 2001). Reproduction: During its spawning seasons (monsoon months), the fish often comes to shallow water in submerged cultivable fields amidst the riparian vegetation for spawning during night and returns to the stream habitats before dawn (Gopi and Radhakrishnan 2001). Diet: Feeds on small fishes and crustaceans (Arunachalam et al. 2000). Etymology: The specific name wynaadensis: From streams in Wynaad, India. Wynaad is the type collection and "ensis" meaning from (Wynaad). Remarks: Pterocryptis wynaadensis is assessed as Endangered and is on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in view of an inferred 50-60% decline in the overall population over the past 10 years resulting from habitat loss, destructive fishing practices and pollution from domestic and agricultural sources.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

Silurus punctatus, Silurus wynaadensis

Family:

Siluridae

Distribution:

Asia: Kerala, India. Type locality: Stream in Wynaad, India, elev. 3000 ft.

Size:

30.0cm. (12ins)

Temp:

20-24°C (67-75°F)

p.H.

6.0-7.0.

Reference:

Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
iNaturalist 2021.
Jayaram. K.C. 2006, Catfishes of India. Narendera Publishing House. 383p.
Raghavan, R. & Ali, A. 2011. Pterocryptis wynaadensis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2.

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

Pterocryptis wynaadenis

Pterocryptis wynaadenis
Head view

Pterocryptis wynaadenis

Pterocryptis wynaadenis
Karnataka, India

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.

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.