Scientific Name
Plicofollis tenuispinis

Common Name
Thinspine sea catfish

Biology
Found in coastal waters down to a depth of about 50 m (Ref. 5213). Enters brackish waters (Ref. 4833). Feeds mainly on invertebrates and small fishes. Caught mainly with bagnets, dipnets, bamboo stake traps and on hook and line.

Classification

Classified By

Day, 1877

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Sea catfishes (Ariidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Indian Ocean

Distribution

Western Indian Ocean: Mozambique and Persian Gulf to Sri Lanka.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

20 m

Depth To - meters

50 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; brackish; demersal; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 20 - 50 m (Ref. 28016)

Trophic Level

4.01 s.e. 0.61 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

36.0 cm

Common Length

23.0 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: minor commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (35 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