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seagrass lagoon

Marine catfish Order Siluriformes
Baby black eeltail catfish Plotosus canius

Tiny juvenile eel-tail catfishes (Family Plotosidae) are commonly seen on Chek Jawa. Larger adults of various species are sometimes trapped in pools at low tide.

Cat food: Catfishes are adapted for hunting in murky waters for bottom-dwelling creatures. These include crustaceans, molluscs and fishes. The 'whiskers’ (barbels) around the catfish's mouth help find prey where visibility is poor. The barbels have taste buds to help sense food. Catfish also have a keen sense of hearing and a strong sense of smell. Like other fishes, catfish smell with their "noses" (nostril-like openings on the snout).

Be careful with the cat! Many catfish have venomous spines on their dorsal and pectoral fins. They can lock these spines so that they stick out. Catfish use their venomous spines to protect themselves against predators, and not to catch prey. Their stings can be excruciating and long-lasting. So please don't handle any catfishes.

Catfish Babies: Young catfishes may congregate in schools for protection. They are sometimes also seen in larger rock pools in Chek Jawa. Males of the Family Ariidae incubates the eggs in their mouths. After the eggs hatch, the father may continue to look after his offspring, allowing them to scurry back into his mouth when in danger. Throughout this period, the father doesn't eat.

Most catfish species live in freshwater. Only a few catfishes are marine.

Adult striped eeltail catfish
Plotosus lineatus

Butterfly-shield
sea catfish
Arius sagor

quick facts
Adults up to 90cm, common in the seagrass lagoon, rock pools, coral rubble

Links
Order Siluriformes from FishBase: Technical fact sheet on the order, including the eel-tailed catfish Family Plotosidae, and fact sheets on individual species such as Plotosus canius and Arius sagor.
Catfish from Inside Sportfishing: Lots of details on catfishes, mostly freshwater, but some details on marine catfishes.
Striped Catfish Plotosus lineatus from the Australian Museum Fish Site on the Australian Museum Online website:

Other references

Lim, S., P. Ng, L. Tan, & W. Y. Chin, 1994. Rhythm of the Sea: The Life and Times of Labrador Beach. Division of Biology, School of Science, Nanyang Technological University & Department of Zoology, the National University of Singapore. 160 pp.
Tan, Leo W. H. & Ng, Peter K. L., 1988, A Guide to Seashore Life. The Singapore Science Centre, Singapore. 160 pp. online version of Black eeltail catfish
Lim, Kelvin K. P. & Jeffrey K. Y. Low, 1998. A Guide to the Common Marine Fishes of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre. 163 pp. online version of Black eeltail catfish and Striped eeltail catfish

a companion website to the chek jawa guidebook website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com

a companion website to the chek jawa guidebook
website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com