Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Plotosidae (Eeltail catfishes)
Etymology: Neosilurus: Greek, neos = new + Greek, silouros = cat fish (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical; 22°C - 30°C (Ref. 2060); 3°S - 19°S
Asia and Oceania: northern Australia and central-southern New Guinea.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 47.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5259); common length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5259); max. published weight: 2.0 kg (Ref. 42516)
Found in rivers and smaller streams, usually where currents are relatively swift (Ref. 5259). Also lives in still or gently flowing water of pools and side channels. A solitary species (Ref. 44894). Feed on mollusks, insects, prawns (Ref. 5259, 44894) crustaceans and worms (Ref. 44894). Spawning period coincides with the rise of the monsoonal floods (Ref. 38147, 44894). Adults migrate upstream into shallow riffle zones where they spawn in pairs. The demersal eggs lodge in crevices on the bottom and hatch 2-3 days later (Ref. 44894).
Allen, G.R., 1989. Freshwater fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey. (Ref. 5259)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Venomous
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: experimental; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5005 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00468 (0.00209 - 0.01049), b=3.06 (2.86 - 3.26), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.44 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (37 of 100).