Stinging eel catfish (Plotosus nkunga)

Scientific name: Plotosus nkunga Gomon & Taylor, 1982

Stinging eel catfish (Plotosus nkunga)

The Stinging eel catfish (Plotosus nkunga) is a freshwater fish of the family Plotosidae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean, Kosi Bay to Knysna in South Africa. Possibly extending to Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 4; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 88 - 109. Preserved specimens brown or grey above, lighter brown or whitish below; 2 faint, longitudinal stripes sometimes present on body but not extending onto head.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Plotosus nkunga
Family
Plotosidae (Eeltail catfishes)
Order
Siluriformes (Catfish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
51.0
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Kosi Bay to Knysna in South Africa. Possibly extending to Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Venomous
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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