HomeFish encyclopediaRay-finned fishesCatfishSisorid catfishesSucker throat catfish Sucker throat catfish (Pseudecheneis sulcata) Scientific name: Pseudecheneis sulcata McClelland, 1842 The Sucker throat catfish (Pseudecheneis sulcata) is a freshwater fish of the family Sisoridae. Native range: Asia, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Reported from Tibet and Myanmar. BiologyDorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12; Vertebrae: 37 - 39. Excluding Pseudecheneis paviei, Pseudecheneis sulcatoides, and Pseudecheneis sympelvica, this species differs from other all congeners by the absence of a prominent bony spur on the anterodorsal surface of the first dorsal-fin pterygiophore. Can be separated from these three species by the combination of the following characters: body elongate with 36-39 vertebrae; thoracic adhesive apparatus with 12-14 transverse laminae; separate pelvic fin; caudal peduncle length 25.0-28.3% SL; presence of a first-dorsal element; complex vertebra with bifid neural spines. Additional characters useful to distinguish this species include: caudal-peduncle depth 4.0-5.2% SL; eye diameter 8.8-10.6% HL; pelvic-fin length 21.2-28.7% SL; length of adipose-fin base 17.8-22.7%; body with pale colored patches; neural spines of the last 2-3 preanal and first 6-7 postanal vertebrae gradually increasing in height; pectoral fin leSource: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific namePseudecheneis sulcataFamilySisoridae (Sisorid catfishes)OrderSiluriformes (Catfish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length20.0EnvironmentFreshwater; demersalClimateTropicalDistributionAsia: India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Reported from Tibet and Myanmar.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: of no interest SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026