Kryptopterus paraschilbeides Ng, 2003

Family:  Siluridae (Sheatfishes)
Max. size:  8.31 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Asia: Mekong River drainage.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal soft rays: 68-73; Vertebrae: 48-50. Distinguished from all congeners in having a unique combination of the following characters: lack of dorsal fin; vomerine in two separate patches; head width 7.9-9.4% SL; 24-28 gill rakers on first gill arch; 9 branchiostegal rays; and more laterally positioned eyes with only ventral half of orbital margin visible when head is viewed from below (interorbital distance 34.2-43.4% HL) (Ref. 55768).
Biology:  Feeds on invertebrates and small fishes. In the Cambodian Mekong, the fish migrates into the flooded forest during high water periods and returns to the rivers in November where they remain until March (Ref. 55768).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 21 March 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.