Scientific Name

Wallago maculatus  Inger & Chin, 1959     

Common Name(s)

None

Type Locality

Kinabatangan R. at Deramakot, Kinabatangan Dist., Malaysia. Borneo.

Pronunciation

wall AH go - mak yoo lat uss

Etymology

Wallago: After its Telugu and Tamil names Walaga (Telugu and Tamil are both Dravidian languages of South India). The specific epithet comes from the Latim maculatus, meaning spot, in reference to the dark blotches on the sides of the body.

Size

1000mm (39.4") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

It can be distinguished from W. leerii and W. micropogon in having a paler body with a series of distinct dark blotches on the sides of the body below the lateral line.

Sexing

Males have a more slender genital papilla immediately in front of anus.

Distribution

Northeast Borneo
Greater Sunda Island Rivers, Borneo Waters, East Borneo Waters, North Eastern Borneo Waters (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)

pH

5.0 - 7.0

Temperature

22.0-27.0°C or 71.6-80.6°F (Show others within this range)

Feeding

Will eat only live foods (fish or frogs) at first, but can be trained to take strips of raw meat.

Furniture

Large driftwood as a hiding place desirable, although not necessary. Bare tank makes cleaning easier.

Compatibility

A solitary predator, will attempt to eat any tankmates.

Breeding

Not known and impossible in the home aquarium, given its size.

References

Fieldiana Zool.v. 39 (no. 27) - pp279

Registered Keepers

None. Add this species to your "my cats" page.

Breeding Reports

None.

More Resources

- Search Planet Catfish for more on Wallago maculatus
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- Look up Wallago maculatus on Fishbase, I.T.I.S. or ispecies search.
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Last Update

2004 Nov 20 00:00 (species record created: 2004 Oct 27 00:00)