Stinging Catfish (শিঙী)

Scientific Name: Heteropneustes fossilis

Classification

Phylum: Chordata - Dorsal tubular nerve cord, notochord and gill slits present.

Subphylum: Vertebrata - Vertebral column present.

Superclass: Gnathostoma -Jaws and paired appendages present.

Class: Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes.

Superorder: Teleostei - Bony fish proper.

Order: Ostariophysi- The anterior vertebrae are modified to form a chain of bones, the Weberian ossicles, joining the swim-bladder to the ear.

Genus: Heteropneustes

Species: fossilis

Habit and habitat: Found in freshwaters of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Burma, Sri Lanka, China, Thailand. H. fossilis found mainly in ponds, ditches, swamps, and marshes, but sometimes occurs in muddy rivers.

Characteristics: 

1. The body is dark purplish-brown or leaden brown above, lighter below and has two lateral elongated yellowish band.
2. Fish measures 15-25 cm in length and the body is divisible into head, trunk and tail. The Head is depressed and covered by thin skin.
3. The Head contains a transverse mouth, eyes and 4 pairs of barbels. Maxillary barbels extend to the middle of the pectoral or to the pelvic fin.

Videos

Live Stinging catfish. YouTube: fishmarketbd

References

• The Fishes of Assam by N.N Sarma
• Practical zoology vertebrates by S.S Lal
• The life of invertebrates by J.Z Young