Shadow Catfish [Some Interesting Facts]

Shadow Catfish Featured Image

Shadow Catfish, scientifically known as Hyalobagrus flavus, is a type of catfish found only in Indonesia.

It lives in the Batang Hari drainage in Sumatra and the Mentaya River basin in southern Borneo.

These fish prefer brown water habitats near blackwater peat swamps.

They swim in large groups, often alongside other shoaling catfish like Pseudeutropius brachypopterus and P. moolengurghae.

You can check out what this fish looks like over here.

Shadow Catfish Interesting Facts

  • Shadow catfish are exclusively found in Indonesia, specifically in the Batang Hari drainage in Sumatra and the Mentaya River basin in southern Borneo.
  • These fish prefer brown water habitats near blackwater peat swamps and often swim in large groups with other shoaling catfish.
  • They reach up to 1.7 inches (4.4 centimeters) in length, featuring one dorsal spine, 5 to 7 soft rays on their dorsal fin, and 18 to 21 soft rays on their anal fin.
  • The pectoral spine is serrated on the outer half, and they have a unique adipose fin that measures between 10.6% and 14.4% of their total length.

Shadow Catfish Habitat

Shadow catfish are found in two specific locations within Asia.

These unique fish live in the Batang Hari drainage of Sumatra and the Mentaya basin in southern Borneo, Indonesia.

They inhabit freshwater environments and typically stay close to the bottom in tropical climates.

Water Temperature:Unknown
Water pH:Unknown
Water Hardness:Unknown

Shadow Catfish Physical Characteristics

Size: 1.7 inches (4.4 centimeters)

Shadow catfish is a small fish, growing up to 1.7 inches (4.4 centimeters) in length. It has one dorsal spine and 5 to 7 soft rays on its dorsal fin.

Its anal fin has 18 to 21 soft rays, and it has 36 to 37 vertebrae. The front edge of the pectoral spine is serrated on the outer half.

The body depth at the anus ranges from 14.3% to 17.3% of its total length.

The dorsal fin doesn’t have a black margin, and the eye diameter is between 27.4% and 34.9% of the head length.

And the base of the adipose fin (a small fatty fin) measures between 10.6% and 14.4% of the fish’s total length.

Shadow Catfish Scientific Classification

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Actinopterygii
Order:Siluriformes
Family:Bagridae
Genus:Hyalobagrus
Scientific Name:Hyalobagrus flavus
Also Known As:Shadow Catfish
Conservation Status:Unknown

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