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Striped Catfish
Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg, 1787)
A school of Striped Catfish at a depth of 3 m, Camp Cove, Sydney Harbour, September 2001. Photo © Ákos Lumnitzer. View larger image
The Striped Catfish can be recognised by its striped colouration, barbels around the mouth, and its body shape which tapers to a point posteriorly. Small juveniles are black and large adults may be less distinctly striped.
The Striped Catfish grows to 35 cm in length.
It eats mainly benthic invertebrates and algae with larger individuals sometimes eating small fishes.
This species is primarily tropical but has been recorded down the east and west coasts of Australia to Sydney, New South Wales and Esperance, Western Australia respectively. It lives in bays and estuaries where it is usually seen in dense schools.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Another common plotosid species which lives in temperate coastal Australian waters is the Estuary Catfish.
Related links
- View low resolution movie clip of Striped Catfish- wmv (55k), Quicktime (105k)
- View high res movie clips on the movies page
- View the Catfishes list
- View the Family Plotosidae list
Further reading
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
