Scientific Name
Neoarius utarus

Common Name
Northern rivers catfish

Biology
Prefers main river channels, but also occurs in lakes and on the floodplain. Feeds mainly on large crustaceans (Macrobrachium and Caridina), fishes, aquatic and terrestrial insects, nymphs and detritus. Occurs at temperatures ranging from 26 to 32?C. Mainly diurnal.

Classification

Classified By

Kailola, 1990

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Sea catfishes (Ariidae)

Distribution

Region

Asia and Oceania

Distribution

Asia and Oceania: Indonesia (Mamberamo river system in Irian Jaya) and Papua New Guinea (Ramu and Sepik river system). Often misidentified as Arius leptaspis, a closely related species from southern New Guinea.

Range

1°S - 6°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; benthopelagic

Trophic Level

3 s.e. 0.47 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

55.0 cm

Common Length

30 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5010 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: subsistence fisheries

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (59 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 58010)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated