Mystus vittatus
No common name
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Siluriformes (Catfishes)
Bagridae
Mystus
Mystus vittatus
Description
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Characters
Body shape: elongated. Body elongate and slightly compressed. Maxillary barbels extending beyond the pelvic fins, often to the end of the anal fin. Dorsal spine weak, finely serrated on its inner edge. Adipose fin small, inserted much behind rayed dorsal fin but anterior to the anal fin. Color in life varies with age; generally delicate gray-silvery to shining golden, with several (about 5) pale blue or dark brown to deep black longitudinal on side. A narrow dusky spot often present on the shoulder. The fins glass, with dark tips (Ref. 4792). Striking features: striking barbel(s).
Distribution
Asia: Indian subcontinent, including Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and probably Myanmar. Reported from Malaysia (Ref. 4835), Laos (Ref. 4792), Bhutan (Ref. 9418), Viet Nam (Ref. 36625) and Cambodia (Ref. 36654). May have been confused with other Mystus.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater, brackish. demersal. Found in: streams, estuaries.
Biology
Adults inhabit standing and flowing waters. Usually found among marginal vegetation in lakes and swamps with a mud substrate. Feed on plants, shrimps, insects, mollusks and fish (Ref. 6028). Oviparous, distinct pairing possibly like other members of the same family (Ref. 205).
Max length: 21.0 cm SL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none. Makes sounds during spawning (Ref. 1672).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2009-10-05. Resilience: Medium (Assuming Fec < 10,000).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial.
References
Riehl, R. and H.A. Baensch (1991) Aquarien Atlas. Band. 1. Melle: Mergus, Verlag für Natur-und Heimtierkunde, Germany. 992 p.
Taki, Y. (1974) Fishes of the Lao Mekong Basin. United States Agency for International Development Mission to Laos Agriculture Division. 232 p.
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.
Pethiyagoda, R. (1991) Freshwater fishes of Sri Lanka. The Wildlife Heritage Trust of Sri Lanka, Colombo. 362 p.
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.
Roberts, T.R. (1992) Revision of the striped catfishes of Thailand misidentified as Mystus vittatus, with descriptions of two new species (Pisces: Bagridae). Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 3(1):77-88.
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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