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Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Silurus asotus  Linnaeus, 1758
Common Names Namazu
Amurmalle (Denmark), Chinese Catfish, Japanese Catfish
Type Locality Asia.
Synonym(s) Parasilurus asotus, Parasilurus japonicus, Silurus bedfordi, Silurus cinereus, Silurus dahuricus, Silurus japonicus, Silurus punctatus
Pronunciation See loo russ - ass ott us
Etymology From the Greek silouros which is the name of the fish. 
Articles
Article Link - CotM Right 2005 Right January
Down Species Information
Size 1300mm or 51.2" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Elongated, cylindrical body. 2 pairs of barbels (mandibular and maxillary). Small dorsal fin, anal fin connected with caudal fin. Dark brown to greenish yellow-brown back, light yellow to yellowish white belly. Average adult size is around 300~500mm. Fry have a second pair of mandibular barbels that fall off spontaneously when the fish reach a length of 60-70 mm TL.
General Remarks An important food fish. Can often be seen in holding tanks in restaurants in China. Also used in Chinese medicine.
Just as Siluris glanis was the prototypical catfish in early Western civilization, S. asotus was the prototypical catfish in early Chinese civilization. Its original Chinese name "Nian", is now the root of the term ("Nianke") for the order Siluriformes and of the common name ("Nianyu") for all catfish.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution Europe and Asia: Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu in Japan, the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan, China, and Russia.
China Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Japan Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Taiwan Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Mongolia Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Korea Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH 6.0 - 8.0
Temperature 5.0-26.0°C or 41-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters A hardy fish that can survive and thrive in a wide variety of water conditions, notably including wide variations in temperature.
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding Carnivore. In the wild, eats smaller fish, crustaceans and insects. User data.
Compatibility Not recommended as an aquarium fish due to its large adult size and propensity to eat other fish.
Breeding Sexually mature at two years. Spawns in May through July. Eggs are slightly sticky, yellowish green or green and spherical in shape, measuring 1.1 - 1.2 mm in diameter.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference Systema Naturae, Ed. X v. 1, pp 304.
Registered Keepers There are 5 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
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There are 4 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2020 Oct 24 05:11 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00)