Kryptopterus cryptopterus

Kryptopterus cryptopterus
Conservation status
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Siluridae
Genus:	Kryptopterus
Species:	K. cryptopterus
Binomial name
Kryptopterus cryptopterus (Bleeker, 1851)

Kryptopterus cryptopterus (Blue Sheatfish^[1]) is a species of catfish, the type species of the genus Kryptopterus. It can be distinguished from all its congeners, with the exception of the newly split Kryptopterus geminus, by the almost flat dorsal profile with no concavity behind the head. This species grows to a length of 14.6 centimetres (5.7 in) SL.^[2]

This distinctively shaped, translucent fish is found in peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. Specimens from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam previously assigned to this species are now recognized as a separate species, K. geminus. K. cryptopterus can be distinguished from this close relative by its broader head, shorter snout, shorter anal fin and eyes located much more ventrally.

References

• Ng, Heok Hee (2003). "Kryptopterus geminus, a new species of silurid catfish (Teleostei: Siluridae) from mainland Southeast Asia". Zootaxa (Magnolia Press) (305): pp. 1–11. ISSN 1175-5334.