Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes)
Etymology: Clarias: Greek, chlaros = lively, in reference to the ability of the fish to live for a long time out of water.
More on author: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
Asia: endemic to Sri Lanka.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6028); max. published weight: 3.6 kg (Ref. 6028)
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Inhabits rain forest streams and lowland rivers. Feeds at night on fish, worms, frogs, tadpoles and crustaceans.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Spawning occurs in makeshift nests among weeds in very shallow water. Male guards the nest and young until reaching about 1 cm in length.
Pethiyagoda, R., 1991. Freshwater fishes of Sri Lanka. The Wildlife Heritage Trust of Sri Lanka, Colombo. 362 p. (Ref. 6028)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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