Scientific Name
Paraplotosus albilabris

Common Name
Whitelipped eel catfish

Biology
Dorsal spines : 1; Dorsal soft rays : 97-115; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 78 - 95. Differs from Paraplotosus butleri in having a shorter dorsal fin and shorter nasal barbels, rounded pectoral fin shape, fewer upper procurrent caudal fin rays, and fewer gill rakers. Differs from P. muelleri in having a shorter dorsal fin and smaller eye. Color highly variable, ranging from pale grey or yellowish brown to dark brown, nearly blackish, sometimes with pronounced dark mottling; generally whitish on belly and ventral part of head; fins brown to blackish, frequently darker than body.

Classification

Classified By

Valenciennes, 1840

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Eeltail catfishes (Plotosidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Indo-Australian Archipelago.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

10 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 10 m

Trophic Level

3.44 s.e. 0.54 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

134 cm

Common Length

40.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (70 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Venomous (Ref. 9801)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated