Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Siluridae (Sheatfishes)
Etymology: Silurus: Greek, silouros = a cat fish + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Garman.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Temperate; 40°N - 39°N, 19°E - 24°E
Europe: Acheloos drainage in Greece. Introduced in Lakes Pamvotis and Volvi.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 46.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 556); common length : 22.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9417); max. reported age: 10 years (Ref. 58504)
Distinguished from Silurus glanis by the following unique characters: one pair of mental barbels; and anal fin with 66-75½ rays (Ref. 59043).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Inhabits lowland rivers and nutrient-rich lakes. Feeds at night mainly on fish. Also preys on crustaceans, gastropods, insects, amphibians and aquatic snakes. Spawns in pairs. Attains first sexual maturity at 2-3 years of age (Ref. 59043).
Males defend small territories at the spawning sites and construct nests made of plant materials. They dig shallow depressions or clean spawnng substrate, at 2-3 m depth. They guard nests until larvae emerge. Spawns in pairs. Eggs hatch in 5 days (Ref. 59043).
Kottelat, M. and J. Freyhof, 2007. Handbook of European freshwater fishes. Publications Kottelat, Cornol and Freyhof, Berlin. 646 pp. (Ref. 59043)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
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