Scientific Name
Plicofollis tonggol

Common Name
Roughback sea catfish

Biology
Found in coastal waters, seldom entering tidal rivers and estuaries. Feeds mainly on invertebrates. The sharp dorsal and pectoral fin spines can inflict painful wounds. Caught mainly with bottom trawls, bamboo stake traps and longlines. Sold mostly fresh and dried-salted in markets.

Classification

Classified By

Bleeker, 1846

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Sea catfishes (Ariidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Pakistan eastwards to Malaysia and southwards to the Philippines and Indonesia.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

50 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 10 - 50 m

Trophic Level

3.5 s.e. 0.37 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

40.0 cm

Common Length

20.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5039 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (37 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 58010)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated