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Scientific Name Sperata seenghala  (Sykes, 1839)
Common Name Giant River-catfish
Type Locality Deccan, India
Synonym(s) Aor seenghala, Aor seenghala, Aoria seenghala, Aorichthys aor sarwari, Aorichthys seenghala, Bagrus aorinus, Bagrus seenghala, Macrones seenghala, Mystus seenghala, Mystus seenghali, Mystus seenghara, Platystoma seenghala, Platystomus seenghala
Pronunciation ss per AT ah - SING hah lah
Etymology The genus is named after MA Sperat. The specific epithet comes from the Bihari (and Oriya) names of the fish (seenghala or singara).
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 1500mm or 59.1" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Eye situated completely in anterior half of head, more precaudal vertebrae (21-23) than congeners, length of supraoccipital spine less than interneural shield.
Sexing Males are more slender and have an elongate genital papilla in front of the anal fin.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Asia: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Indian waters, Andhra Pradesh State Waters, Krishna (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Indian waters, North Eastern India Waters, Padma, Ganges (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Pakistan Waters, Indus (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 2009.
pH 6.0 - 7.0
Temperature 20.0-25.0°C or 68-77°F (Show species within this range)
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Readily feeds on live or frozen foods, smaller fishes, shrimps, and prepared foods such as pellets. User data.
Furniture Provide ample driftwood for shelter.
Compatibility Not suitable with smaller tankmates, as it will eat them. Territorial with conspecifics, so best kept alone.
Breeding Not reported in aquaria. Spawning is said to occur before the beginning of the southwest monsoon season in India. Individuals spawn at irregular intervals throughout the reproductive season and females can produce more than 1.2 million ova. It has been suggested that the males incubate the eggs in highly vascularized, spongy skin on the ventral surface of their abdomen and then feed the newly-hatched fry with a milky-white exudate from the abdominal wall.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1838 (pt 6) (for 27 Nov. 1838), pp 164.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2022 Oct 22 00:52 (species record created: 2003 Sep 28 00:00)