White barbel (Galeichthys feliceps)

Scientific name: Galeichthys feliceps Valenciennes, 1840

White barbel (Galeichthys feliceps)

The White barbel (Galeichthys feliceps) is a brackish-water fish of the family Ariidae.

Biology

Generally found in large shoals on muddy bottoms in turbid waters, usually on the coastline and estuaries. Also found in rivers. Feed on crayfish, small fish, and crabs. Considered a nuisance of shore and ski-boat anglers in southern Africa as little else is caught. Spines are poisonous and wounds should be treated immediately. Marketed smoked.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Galeichthys feliceps
Family
Ariidae (Sea catfishes)
Order
Siluriformes (Catfish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
55.0
Common length
35.0
Depth range
120 m (394 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; amphidromous; depth range ? - 120 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Southeast Atlantic: Walvis Bay, Namibia to the vicinity of East london, South Africa. Records from Guinea-Bissau as Tachysurus feliceps and from Guinea as Arius feliceps are erroneous.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Venomous
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tm=2-3)

More catfish & plecos

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Sources

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

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