Plicofollis dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1840)
Blacktip sea catfish
photo by Osmany, H.B.

Family:  Ariidae (Sea catfishes), subfamily: Ariinae
Max. size:  85 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,400.0 g
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 20 - 50 m
Distribution:  Indo-west Pacific: Mozambique and Madagascar to Sri Lanka, the east coast of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar to Sumatra (Ref. 56505).
Diagnosis:  Anal soft rays: 14-16. It has a prominent lateral ethmoid that forms a "shelf" between the eye and the nostrils (Ref. 56505), two pairs of vomerine toothpletes (Ref. 56505), and a very short adipose-fin base (Ref. 56505). Body dark brown, lower surfaces completely covered with fine brown pigment specks (Ref. 3976).
Biology:  Found along the coast (Ref. 5213). Enters the lower parts of rivers of the east coast of Africa (Ref. 3876). Feeds on invertebrates and small fishes. Marketed fresh and dried-salted (Ref. 3290). Males incubate eggs in its mouth(Ref. 68964). Air bladder utilized for isinglass.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 July 2016 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  traumatogenic


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