Hemibagrus wyckii

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Hemibagrus wyckii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes Family: Bagridae Genus: Hemibagrus Species: H. wyckii
Binomial name
Hemibagrus wyckii (Bleeker, 1858)
Synonyms
Bagrus wyckii Bleeker 1858 Macrones wyckii (Bleeker, 1858) Mystus wyckii (Bleeker, 1858)

Hemibagrus wyckii is a species of catfish (order Siluriformes) of the family Bagridae. It is occasionally called the crystal eyed catfish.^[1]

Contents 1 Distribution 2 Appearance and anatomy 3 Ecology 4 Relationship to humans 5 See also 6 References

[edit] Distribution

This species originates in Asia from Thailand to Indonesia.^[2] It is known from the Mekong and Chao Phraya drainages in central Indochina. It is also known from the Batang Hari and Musi River drainages in Sumatra, the Pahang River drainage in Peninsular Malaysia, the Citarum drainage in Java, and the Baram, Rejang, Kapuas, and Barito River drainages in Borneo.^[3]

[edit] Appearance and anatomy

H. wyckii are black with a few white markings on the caudal and dorsal fins, and the eyes are sky blue.^[4] They reach about 71 centimetres (28 in) SL.^[2] The head is extremely depressed and broad. The caudal fin is dark grey. The dorsal fin spine has 10–12 serrations on the posterior edge.^[3]

H. wyckii bears a resemblance to H. wyckioides, however H. wyckioides lacks serrations on the dorsal fin spine, has a shorter dorsal fin base, and shorter maxillary barbels.^[3]

[edit] Ecology

H. wyckii appears to be restricted in the middle reaches of the large rivers it inhabits.^[2] This species feeds on insects, prawns and fishes.^[2] These fish are aggressive and can attack animals of their own size; they have been claimed to be the "only freshwater fish unafraid of man".^[4][1]

[edit] Relationship to humans

This fish is marketed fresh as a food fish.^[2] Hemibagrus are aquacultured in Asian countries.^[4]

H. wyckii and Hemibagrus wyckioides are the two members of this genus imported as aquarium fish.^[4] These fish will bite and can damage objects in the aquarium.^[1] Due to both its aggressive and its predatory nature, this species should be kept alone.^[1]

[edit] See also

• List of freshwater aquarium fish species

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::December 2002 (2006-08-10). Retrieved on 2007-05-18.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Hemibagrus wyckii". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. May 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Ng, Heok Hee; Rainboth, Walter, J. (1999). "The Bagrid Catfish Genus Hemibagrus (Teleostei: Siluriformes) in Central Indochina with a New Species from the Mekong River" (PDF). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 47 (2): 555–576. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Linder, R. Shane (June 2000). "The Catfishes of Asia Family Bagridae part two" (PDF). Cat Chat 1 (2).