WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Sailfin Catfish

Paraplotosus butleri

Also known as: Butler's Catfish, Eel-tailed Catfish

Adult
@fishx6 · Navy Pier, Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, WA, Australia · June 20131 / 8
01

Overview

Found singly, amongst debris, in crevices and holes, under ledges and rocks of shallow coastal reefs.
They are bottom feeders and use the barbels around their mouth to detect food.
They feed on crustaceans and molluscs.
Juveniles form tightly packed schools for feeding which may contain hundreds of fish.
Indo-West Pacific - Northern 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

COLOURS
Fins & Tail
sail fin
Head & Mouth
barbels

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Exact location · 2
  • Country only · 6
LIVES IN

Found singly, amongst debris, in crevices and holes, under ledges and rocks of shallow coastal reefs.

04

Adult photos 8

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderSiluriformes
    5. familyPlotosidae
    6. genusParaplotosus
    7. speciesParaplotosus butleri Allen, 1998

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Eeltail Catfishes (Plotosidae)