Hemibagrus microphthalmus (Day, 1877)
Hemibagrus microphthalmus
photo by Jean-Francois Helias / Fishing Adventures Thailand

Family:  Bagridae (Bagrid catfishes)
Max. size:  150 cm NG (male/unsexed); max.weight: 80 kg
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish, potamodromous
Distribution:  Asia: Manipur drainage in India, Irrawaddy and Sittang drainages in Myanmar and, Salween River in Thailand (Ref. 41209). Records from Laos refer to Hemibagrus wyckioides (Ref. 43281).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Anal soft rays: 12-13; Vertebrae: 51-54. Distinguished from its congeners by a unique combination of the following characters: length of dorsal-fin base 13.7-16.7% SL, dorsal to adipose distance 8.6-14.2% SL, interorbital distance 28.4-31.8% HL, eye diameter 9.2-11.3% HL and a rounded snout (Ref. 41209).
Biology:  Occurs in deeper rocky areas and tree roots (Ref. 37771). Species caught throughout the year. Enters flooded forest during the months of high water (July-October). Feeds on fish, shrimps and crabs (Ref. 9497).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 December 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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