johnny· 22 Jan 2017
Apparently good eating though they need to be killed quickly, skinned, then put on ice immediately. Not a good fighter, they are a dead weight on your line
Bony fish
Estuary Catfish
Cnidoglanis macrocephalus
Also known as: Cobbler, Estuarine Catfish, Estuary Cobbler, South Australian Catfish, Toothless Catfish
ALSO KNOWN AS
- Cobbler
- Estuarine Catfish
- Estuary Cobbler
- South Australian Catfish
- Toothless Catfish
VenomousKeep your distance
01
Overview
Found singly, during the day in holes or under ledges, out foraging for food at night over rock, sand and weedy bottoms, in turbid waters of estuaries and bays. They are bottom feeders and use the barbels around their mouth to detect food.
Indo-Pacific - Australia
Catfish have venomous spines in the fins which can inflict painful wounds.
Repeated stings from these catfish may result in death.
02
How to identify
03
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Indo-Pacific
- Country only · 2
LIVES IN
Found singly, during the day in holes or under ledges, out foraging for food at night over rock, sand and weedy bottoms, in turbid waters of estuaries and bays.
RANGE
04
Adult photos 2
05
Discussion 2
2 comments
- Ryan· 15 Mar 2014
Hi Mario. The black catfish that you have pictured is not actually any of the catfish you mentioned. It is actually a Black Sailfin Catfish that is endemic to Ningaloo Reef - which is where you found it. The other, pale catfish, are as you described them.
ALL STAGES
FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS
Deep dive
06
More in the family
Eeltail Catfishes (Plotosidae)
