Falsespine Catfish, Neosilurus pseudospinosus Allen & Feinberg, 1998
Scientific name: Neosilurus pseudospinosus
Alternative name/s:
False-spined Catfish
False-spined Catfish
Click to enlarge image
A False-spined Catfish at the Territory Wildlife Park Aquarium. The fish was caught by D. Wilson in the upper Katherine River, southern Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory.
Image: David Wilson
© David Wilson
© David Wilson
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Neosilurus
- Species
- pseudospinosus
- Family
- Plotosidae
- Order
- Siluriformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grows to 35cm in length.
Introduction
The Falsespine Catfish is endemic to Australia.The species is grey to black above and whitish on the belly.
Identification
The Falsespine Catfish has an elongate body with a tall first dorsal fin. The second dorsal fin and anal fin are continuous with the caudal fin. There is a flexible cartilaginous spine at the front of the first dorsal fin and pectoral fins. The species is grey to black above and whitish on the belly.
Distribution
The Falsespine Catfish is endemic to Australia, occurring in freshwaters of northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
References
- Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
- Allen, G.R. & M.N. Feinberg, 1998. Descriptions of a New Genus and Four New Species of Freshwater Catfishes (Plotosidae) from Australia. Aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology. 3 (1): 9-18.
