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Description |
Asia: Thailand to Viet Nam. Introduced to China, Malaysia, Guam and the Philippines.
Geographic Range [top]
Range Description: Recorded from the Mae Khlong to Mekong basins, and from Peninsular Malaysia. There are also records from Myanmar, Japan, China, Indonesia (Sumatra), Guam and the Philippines; these are considered misidentifications or introductions.
Countries occurrence:
Native:
Cambodia; Lao Peoples Democratic Republic; Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia); Thailand; Viet Nam
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
Population [top]
Population: It is thought that populations have declined as a result of loss of suitable habitat.
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Additional data:
?Population severely fragmented: No
Habitat and Ecology [top]
Habitat and Ecology: Lives in lowland wetlands and rivers, including sluggish flowing canals and flooded fields; occurs in shallow, open water and is capable of lying buried in mud for lengthy periods if water evaporates during dry seasons. Dependent on swamps and swamp forest. Can move out of the water using its extended fins. It feeds on aquatic insects, young shrimps and small fishes.
Systems: Freshwater
Use and Trade [top]
Use and Trade: Found in local and commercial fisheries, and in commercial aquaculture. Economically important. It is also used to produce hybrids with introduced African Catfish.
Threats [top]
Major Threat(s): The species is impacted by the loss of suitable wetland habitat through drainage and clearance for urbanisation and agriculture, as well as exploitation for aquaculture.
Across much of its range the catfish population is also threatened by escaped hybrids between female C. macrocephalus and introduced male C. gariepinus. The hybrid is able to breed with both species and could cause a genetic introgression leading to species extinction. The hybrid also grows faster than the native fish and might out-compete the native stock for resources (Na-Nakorn 2004). However these threats are not thought to be applicable to the Malaysia populations.
Conservation Actions [top]
Conservation Actions: Further research across the species range is needed into the impacts of escaped hybrids on the wild populations. The extent and quality of habitat should also be monitored.
Citation: Vidthayanon, C. & Allen, D.J. 2013. Clarias macrocephalus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T166020A6170044. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T166020A6170044.en. Downloaded on 01 April 2016.
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