Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Ariidae (Sea catfishes) > Ariinae
Etymology: Netuma: A Tamil word that means "dance".
More on author: Valenciennes.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal. Tropical
Indo-West Pacific: Persian Gulf to the Indo-Malayan region, northern Australia, Queensland, and north to southern Japan. Has long been confused with Arius thalassinus (Rüppell 1837).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 90.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 114032)
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 17 - 21; Vertebrae: 53 - 58. Dorsomedian head groove bordered posteriorly by slightly raised frontals and forming a "V". Gill rakers usually absent on hind aspect of first 2 gill arches. Caudal fin lobes slender and tapered. Adipose fin short-based and located posteriorly.
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Inhabits coastal waters, from estuaries onto the continental shelf. Found mostly on mudflats; males incubate eggs in its mouth (Ref. 68964). Mainly opportunistic and carnivorous; feeding on sea urchins, crustaceans, fish, prawns, loose scales, and detritus (Ref. 38478). Has a sharp and venomous dorsal and pectoral spines that can inflict extremely painful injuries(Ref. 68964). An important food fish (Ref. 7050).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kailola, P.J., 1999. Ariidae (=Tachysuridae): sea catfishes (fork-tailed catfishes). p. 1827-1879. In K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 3. Batoid fishes, chimaeras and bony fishes part 1 (Elopidae to Linophrynidae). FAO, Rome. (Ref. 38478)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic (Ref. 58010)
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources