Fishes
213
Description: Body of this species is
elongated and laterally compressed.
Eyes have eyelids. Mouth is moderate
and subterminal. Upper jaw is longer
than lower jaw. Barbels are in four pairs.
Gill opening is wide. Dorsal spine is
slender and serrated posteriorly. Body
is dark on back and whitish or silvery
at sides and abdomen. This species has
been reported to reach a maximum size
of 60.9 cm (Nayan, 2011c).
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition (per 100 g DM)
Protein
(g)
Lipid
(mg)
Moisture a
(%)
18.50
1.60
80.00
a Wet weight.
Source: Data from Patole (2012).
Sperata aor Hamilton 1822 (= Macrones aor)
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Schilbeidae
Common name: Long-whiskered catfish, Indian shovelnose catfish.
Distribution: Asia: Pakistan, India,
Nepal, Bangladesh, and upper Myanmar (Luna, 1988t).
Habitat: Rivers, ponds, lakes, channels,
and reservoirs.
Description: Body of this species is
elongated; head is compressed and
mouth is subterminal. Eyes are transversely oval. There are four pairs of
barbels, and the maxillary pair reaches
to the base of the caudal. Dorsal and
pectoral fins have a strong spine that is
finely serrated on its posterior edge. The
adipose fin, which is well developed,
has a dark spot at its posterior base.
Caudal fin is forked and its upper lobe
is slightly longer than its lower lobe.
Lateral line is complete. Males are more
slender and have an elongate genital
papilla in front of the anal fin. It reaches
a maximum length of 180 cm (Nayan,
2011e; PlanetCatfish.com).
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition (% WW)
Moisture
Fat
Protein
Ash
76.0–82.5 0.21–4.55 14.9–19.0 0.81–1.45
Source: Data from Natarajan and Srinivasan
(1961).