Chaca chaca
No common name
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Siluriformes (Catfishes)
Chacidae (Frogmouth Catfishes)
Chaca
Chaca chaca
Description
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Characters
Body shape: elongated.
Distribution
Asia: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaya and Indonesia (Ref. 41236). Reported from Myanmar (Ref. 4537).
Habitat Associations
Freshwater. demersal. Found in: streams.
Biology
Inhabits rivers, beels, canals and ponds (Ref. 1479). Prefers soft substrates where it lies concealed in the soft mire of the river bed. It depends upon this concealment for protection and will not even move when it is touched lightly. Lies quietly on the bottom until some prey comes along (Ref. 6868). Apparently a worm-like appendix at the fringe of the mouth is used to attract prey (Ref. 50926). Fairly common in catches, but is not eaten perhaps due to its ugly appearance.
Max length: 20.0 cm TL.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2009-10-06.
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial.
References
Talwar, P.K. and A.G. Jhingran (1991) Inland fishes of India and adjacent countries. Volume 2. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, i-xxii + 543-1158, 1 pl.
Burgess, W.E. (1989) An atlas of freshwater and marine catfishes. A preliminary survey of the Siluriformes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey (USA). 784 p.
Menon, A.G.K. (1999) Check list - fresh water fishes of India. Rec. Zool. Surv. India, Misc. Publ., Occas. Pap. No. 175, 366 p.
Comments On Chaca chaca