Mastacembelus armatus
No common name
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Synbranchiformes (Swamp Eels)
Mastacembelidae (Spiny Eels)
Mastacembelus
Mastacembelus armatus
Description
This species account was compiled from
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Characters
Body shape: elongated. Body dull brown with 1-3 darker, longitudinal zigzag lines, more or less connected to form a reticulated pattern, more or less distinct and restricted to the dorsal two thirds of the body (Ref. 27732).
Distribution
Asia: Pakistan to Viet Nam and Indonesia.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater, brackish. demersal. Found in: streams, lakes.
Biology
Adults live in highland streams to lowland wetlands (Ref. 57235). Usually found in streams and rivers with sand, pebble, or boulder substrate. They seldom leave the bottom except when disturbed. Also occur in still waters, both in coastal marshes and dry zone tanks. Sometimes stays partially buried in fine substrate. Enter flooded forest (Ref. 9497). Reported to occur in areas with rocky bottoms in the Mekong mainstream during the dry season, but enter canals, lakes and other floodplain areas during the flood season (Ref. 37770). Forages at night on benthic insect larvae, worms and some submerged plant material (Ref. 12693). Common during the summer months. Marketed fresh and frequently seen in the aquarium trade (Ref. 12693). Economic important species, both food and aquarium trades (Ref. 57235).
Max length: 90.0 cm TL; max weight: 500 g.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders; parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2019-08-11. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Pethiyagoda, R. (1991) Freshwater fishes of Sri Lanka. The Wildlife Heritage Trust of Sri Lanka, Colombo. 362 p.
Kottelat, M. (1998) Fishes of the Nam Theun and Xe Bangfai basins, Laos, with diagnoses of twenty-two new species (Teleostei: Cyprinidae, Balitoridae, Cobitidae, Coiidae and Odontobutidae). Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 9(1):1-128.
Lim, P., S. Lek, S.T. Touch, S.-O. Mao and B. Chhouk (1999) Diversity and spatial distribution of freshwater fish in Great Lake and Tonle Sap River (Cambodia, Southeast Asia). Aquat. Living Resour. 12(6):379-386.
Sokheng, C., C.K. Chhea, S. Viravong, K. Bouakhamvongsa, U. Suntornratana, N. Yoorong, N.T. Tung, T.Q. Bao, A.F. Poulsen and J.V. Jørgensen (1999) Fish migrations and spawning habits in the Mekong mainstream: a survey using local knowledge (basin-wide). Assessment of Mekong fisheries: Fish Migrations and Spawning and the Impact of Water Management Project (AMFC). AMFP Report 2/99. Vientiane, Lao, P.D.R.
Roberts, T.R. (1986) Systematic review of the Mastacembelidae or spiny eels of Burma and Thailand, with description of two new species of Macrognathus. Jap. J. Ichthyol. 33(2):95-109.
Weliange, W.S. and U.S. Amarasinghe (2007) Relationship between body shape and food habits of fish from three reservoirs of Sri Lanka. Asian Fish. Sci. 20:257-270.
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