PlanetCatfish.com - Plotosus lineatus (Plotosidae) Cat-eLog

Adult
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Alanya Pirates' Cave, Gulf of Antalya, Türkiye
Alanya Pirates' Cave, Gulf of Antalya, Türkiye

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Plotosus lineatus** (Thunberg, 1787)
Common Names	Striped Eel Catfish Coral Catfish, Marine Catfish, Stribet Koralmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Eastern Indian Ocean.
Synonym(s)	Platystacus anguillaris, Plotoseus ikapor, Plotossus anguillaris, Plotosus anguillaris, Plotosus arab, Plotosus brevibarbus, Plotosus castaneoides, Plotosus castaneus, Plotosus flavolineatus, Plotosus ikapor, Plotosus lineatus, Plotosus marginatus, Plotosus thunbergianus, Plotosus vittatus, Silurus arab, Silurus lineatus
Pronunciation	Ploh toe suss - lean ee ah tuss
Etymology	The generic name comes from the Greek plotos, meaning swimming. The specific epithet comes from the Latin linea, meaning line, in reference to the striped colour pattern of this species.
Species Information
Size	320mm or 12.6" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Juveniles are easily distinguished by the distinctive striped colour pattern. The stripes tend to fade in adults, although they are still faintly visible in most cases. Otherwise distinguished by a moderately compressed head, and 85-105 total median fin rays.
General Remarks	The only catfish found in coral reefs. The highly venomous serrate spine of the first dorsal and each of the pectoral fins are dangerous, and even fatal in rare cases.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan, southern Korea, and the Ogasawara Islands, south to Australia and Lord Howe Island. Palau and Yap in Micronesia. Sometimes enters freshwaters of East Africa (Lake Malawi) and Madagascar. Indian Ocean (click on these areas to find other species found there) Pacific (click on these areas to find other species found there) Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Not Evaluated
pH	8.0 - 8.6
Temperature	20.0-27.0°C or 68-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Needs saltwater, although it can survive in freshwater for brief periods. Salinity should be between 1.023 to 1.025.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	All kinds of food (fresh, frozen, pellets) taken with gusto. May also eat small fishes. User data.
Furniture	A sand / gravel and coral / rock rubble substrate preferred. Make sure that there is enough rockwork for the fish to hide in during the day.
Compatibility	Fairly peaceful and compatible with most fish of equal size or larger in a marine setup. Juveniles are very sociable and aggregate in schools of more than a hundred individuals. Adults are best kept in a small group.
Breeding	This species spawns during the summer months. The males construct nests in shallow, rocky areas and guard the small eggs (3-3.5 mm in diameter).
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Museum naturalium Academiae Upsaliensis. ... Praesidae, pp 31, footnote 13.
Registered Keepers	There is no registered keeper.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 3 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.11.42.91
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:22 (species record created: 2001 Apr 24 00:00)