Falsespine Catfish, Neosilurus pseudospinosus Allen & Feinberg, 1998

Scientific name: Neosilurus pseudospinosus
Alternative name/s:
False-spined Catfish
Neosilurus pseudospinosus Click to enlarge image
A False-spined Catfish at the Territory Wildlife Park Aquarium. The fish was caught by D. Wilson in the upper Katherine River, southern Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory. Image: David Wilson
© David Wilson

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Neosilurus
    Species
    pseudospinosus
    Family
    Plotosidae
    Order
    Siluriformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 35cm in length.

Introduction

The Falsespine Catfish is endemic to Australia.The species is grey to black above and whitish on the belly.

Identification

The Falsespine Catfish has an elongate body with a tall first dorsal fin. The second dorsal fin and anal fin are continuous with the caudal fin. There is a flexible cartilaginous spine at the front of the first dorsal fin and pectoral fins. The species is grey to black above and whitish on the belly.

Distribution

The Falsespine Catfish is endemic to Australia, occurring in freshwaters of northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

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

References

  1. Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
  2. Allen, G.R. & M.N. Feinberg, 1998. Descriptions of a New Genus and Four New Species of Freshwater Catfishes (Plotosidae) from Australia. Aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology. 3 (1): 9-18.