HomeFish encyclopediaRay-finned fishesCatfishSheatfishesClub-barbel sheatfish Club-barbel sheatfish (Ceratoglanis pachynema) Scientific name: Ceratoglanis pachynema Ng, 1999 The Club-barbel sheatfish (Ceratoglanis pachynema) is a freshwater fish of the family Siluridae. Native range: Asia, Chao Phraya and Mekong drainages. Previously misidentified as Ceratoglanis scleronema from the Chao Phraya drainage. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal soft rays: 90 - 101; Vertebrae: 63 - 64. Snout with a gently sloping ventral profile (ventral angle of snout 40?-42?), relatively fewer anal-fin rays (90-101), and larger eyes (eye diameter 13.0-16.4% HL) set closer together (interorbital distance 33.7-36.6% HL). Mature males have membranous extensions on both the anterior and posterior edges of the maxillary barbel. Pectoral spine and articulated segments sexually dimorphic in mature individuals. Males with spine broad and somewhat flattened dorsoventrally, with 10 distinct posterior serrate, increasing in size distally; proximal articulated segments with 17 well-developed posterior serrae; distal-most segments have smaller serrae. Females or juveniles with spine slender and without serrae; proximal articulated segments with 6 minute posterior serrae; distal segments with 5 minute serrae. Absence of dorsal fin; short stiff hooked maxillary barbeSource: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameCeratoglanis pachynemaFamilySiluridae (Sheatfishes)OrderSiluriformes (Catfish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length28.0EnvironmentFreshwater; demersalClimateTropicalDistributionAsia: Chao Phraya and Mekong drainages. Previously misidentified as Ceratoglanis scleronema from the Chao Phraya drainage.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026