Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Philippine catfish
Hitong batukan,  Thai hito,  Alimudan,  Hito,  Ito,  Kawatsi,  Paltat,  Pantat
Clarias batrachus
photo by Ramani Shirantha

Family:  Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes)
Max. size:  47 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,190.0 g
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; depth range - 1 m, potamodromous
Distribution:  Asia: Java, Indonesia. Clarias aff. batrachus from Indochina and Clarias aff. batrachus from Sundaland have been misidentified as Clarias batrachus from Java. Introduced elsewhere. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 60-76; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 47-58. Body compressed posteriorly. Upper jaw a little projecting. Spine of pectoral fins rough on its outer edge and serrated on its inner edge (Ref. 4792). Occipital process more or less triangular, its length about 2 time in its width (Ref. 27732); distance between dorsal and occipital process 4-5.5 times in distance from tip of snout to end of occipital process (Ref. 43281). Genital papilla in males is elongated and pointed (Ref. 52012).
Biology:  Adults inhabit lowland streams (Ref. 57235), swamps, ponds, ditches, rice paddies, and pools left in low spots after rivers have been in flood (Ref. 2854, 57235). Usually confined to stagnant, muddy water (Ref. 1479). Found in medium to large-sized rivers, flooded fields and stagnant water bodies including sluggish flowing canals (Ref. 12975). Undertake lateral migrations from the Mekong mainstream, or other permanent water bodies, to flooded areas during the flood season and returns to the permanent water bodies at the onset of the dry season (Ref. 37770). Can live out of water for quite sometime and move short distances over land (Ref. 4833). Can walk and leave the water to migrate to other water bodies using its auxiliary breathing organs. The Lao use this fish as lap pa or ponne pa. Feed on insect larvae, earthworms, shells, shrimps, small fish, aquatic plants and debris (Ref. 6459). An important food fish (Ref. 4833) that is marketed live, fresh and frozen (Ref. 9987). Recently rare, being replaced by introduced African walking catfish (Ref. 57235).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 January 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  potential pest
Country info:  Known Ambacan River at Makinhas and Butigan, Leyte in 1993 (Ref. 7223), Kalinawan River (Ref. 81829), Laguna de Bay (Ref. 80824), Lake Buluan (Ref. 13492), Lake Taal (Ref. 13446), Lake Naujan (Ref. 13446, 81829), Paoay Lake (Ref. 80830), Lake Lanao (Ref. 81887, 95183), and Lake Mainit, Mindanao (Ref. 4867). Also recorded from Paitan Lake, Pantabangan Dam, and Tabuating River (Nueva Ecija) (Ref. 109918). Completely dominated natural populations in lakes and rivers and the indigenous Clarias macrocephalus which can hardly be found in the markets today. Occurs in swamps, ponds, ditches, rice paddies, and pools left in low spots after rivers have flooded (Ref. 2854). Also Ref. 1739, 6096, 7050, 12550, 36654, 43638.


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