Cat-eLog Right Clariidae Right Clarias  |  | 

Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Clarias macrocephalus  Günther, 1864
Common Names Pla Duk
Storhovedet ålemalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Thailand.
Pronunciation klar ee ass
Etymology Clarias: From the Greek chlaros, meaning lively; in reference to the ability of the fish to live for long periods out of water. 
Down Species Information
Size 1200mm or 47.2" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Clarias species are characterized by having an elongated body; a soft rayed dorsal fin extending to, or nearly to, the caudal fin base; a soft rayed anal fin extending from just behind the anus to the caudal fin base; pectoral fins each with a serrated anterior bony spine; head depressed, covered largely by firmly sutured, surface sculptured bony plates forming a protective helmet; four pairs of flagellate barbels (nasals, maxillaries, inner and outer mandibulars); air breathing organs derived from the 2nd and 4th epibranchials within a superbranchial chamber.

Distinguished from Southeast Asian congeners by an extremely short and rounded occipital process and by a very high dorsal fin. The combination of these characters are diagnostic for the species. Occipital process wide, broadly curved, with length 3-5 times in its width; distance between dorsal and occipital process 5-7 times in distance from tip of snout to end of occipital process
Sexing The genital papilla, which is to the right of the anus as you look at the fish with its head to the left, is elongated and pointed in males while it is round and relatively larger (and larger than the anus) in females. In ventral view especially, females are much broader in the body than males of equal age and rearing practices.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution Asia: Thailand to Viet Nam. Introduced to China, Malaysia, Guam and the Philippines.
Thailand Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Vietnam waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)

Log in to view data on a map.
IUCN Red List Category Data Deficient, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2019.
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding Feeds on aquatic insects, young shrimps and small fishes. User data.
Suggested Tankmates Large cyprinids (silver sharks, tinfoil or spanner barbs for example) or Central American cichlids.
Breeding Unreported in the aquarium, in nature, this species spawns in small streams.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference Catalogue of the fishes in the British Museum v. 5, pp 18.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
Wishlists Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list.
There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars!
There is no record of this fish being seen.
Forum BBCode
Search for C. macrocephalus
Look up AquaticRepublic.com Look up C. macrocephalus on AquaticRepublic.com
Look up on Fishbase Look up C. macrocephalus on Fishbase
Look up on Encyclopedia of Life Look up Clarias macrocephalus on Encyclopedia of Life
Look up on Global Biodiversity Information Facility Look up C. macrocephalus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Clarias macrocephalus QR code LFS label creator
Last Update 2020 Sep 25 00:38 (species record created: 2006 Nov 11 06:16)