Animal Species:Freshwater Catfish, Tandanus tandanus (Mitchell, 1838)

Freshwater Catfish, Tandanus tandanus
Sally Reader © Australian Museum

Alternative Name/s

Catfish, Cattie, Dewfish, Eel-tail Freshwater Catfish, Eel-tailed Catfish, Jewfish, Kenaru, Tandan Catfish

Identification

The Freshwater Catfish has a short first dorsal fin and an eel-like tail. The second dorsal fin originates above the middle of the body. The first dorsal fin and pectoral fins are each preceded by a sharp serrated spine. The down-turned mouth is surrounded by four pairs of barbels. It has no scales. The species is brown to olive green, reddish or even purplish above, and pale below. Juveniles have dark brown to black mottling.

Size range

The species grows to 90 cm in length but is more commonly seen up to 45 cm. It weighs up to 7 kg.

Distribution

The species is endemic to Australia. It occurs throughout much of the Murray-Darling River drainage and in coastal drainages from northern Queensland to central New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Freshwater Catfish specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:

tandanus

Genus:

Tandanus

Family:

Plotosidae

Order:

Siluriformes

Class:

Actinopterygii

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

References

1. Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications. Pp. 240.
2. Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
4. Pollard, D.A., Davis, T.L.O. & L.C. Llewellyn in McDowall, R.M. 1996. Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Reed Books. Pp. 247.
5. Merrick, J.R. & G.E. Schmida. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes. Biology and Management. John R. Merrick. Pp. 409.

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 28 July 2012

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Freshwater Catfish, Tandanus tandanus, Plotosidae, olive green, purple, red, endemic to Australia, pale underside, Catfish, Cattie, Dewfish, Eel-tail Freshwater Catfish, Eel-tailed Catfish, Jewfish, Kenaru, Tandan Catfish, eel-like tail, down-turned mouth, brown, bloctches/mottled, 30 cm - 1 m, Murray-Darling River, coastal drainage,