Scientific Name
Tandanus tandanus

Common Name
Tandan catfish

Biology
Adults inhabit slow moving streams, lakes and ponds with fringing vegetation. They swim close to sand or gravel bottoms. More abundant in lakes than in flowing water (Ref. 44894). Usually solitary but juveniles sometimes form loose aggregations. Mainly bottom-feeders (Ref. 44894). Feed on insect larvae, prawns, crayfish, mollusks, and small fishes. Breeding occurs between spring and mid-summer when water temperatures rise to between 20? and 24?C (Ref. 44894). Utilized for human consumption.

Classification

Classified By

Mitchell, 1838

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Eeltail catfishes (Plotosidae)

Distribution

Region

Oceania

Distribution

Oceania: endemic to Australia.

Range

12°S - 43°S

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

5 °C

Water Temperature To

25 °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 10 - ? m

Trophic Level

3.02 s.e. 0.44 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

90.0 cm

Common Length

45.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.7500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (37 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=5; K=0.10)

Threat To Humans

Venomous (Ref. 4537)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated