Animal Species:Falsespine Catfish, Neosilurus pseudospinosus Allen & Feinberg, 1998

Alternative Name/s

False-spined Catfish

Identification

The Falsespine Catfish has an elongate body with a tall first dorsal fin. The second dorsal fin and anal fin are continuous with the caudal fin. There is a flexible cartilaginous spine at the front of the first dorsal fin and pectoral fins. The species is grey to black above and whitish on the belly.

Size range

The species grows to 35cm in length.

Distribution

The Falsespine Catfish is endemic to Australia, occurring in freshwaters of northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Falsespine Catfish specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:

pseudospinosus

Genus:

Neosilurus

Family:

Plotosidae

Order:

Siluriformes

Class:

Actinopterygii

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

References

1. Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
2. Allen, G.R. & M.N. Feinberg, 1998. Descriptions of a New Genus and Four New Species of Freshwater Catfishes (Plotosidae) from Australia. Aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology. 3 (1): 9-18.

 

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 28 July 2012

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Falsespine Catfish, Neosilurus pseudospinosus, Plotosidae, endemic to Australia, grey, black, white underside, False-spined Catfish, elongate, 30 cm - 1 m, freshwater,