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iEeltail catfish
Image:Euristhmus microceps.png Euristhmus microceps
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes Family: Plotosidae
Genera
Anodontiglanis Cnidoglanis Euristhmus Neosiluroides Neosilurus Oloplotosus Paraplotosus Plotosus Porochilus Tandanus

The eeltail catfish are a family (Plotosidae) of catfish whose tails are elongated in an eel-like fashion. Native to the Indo-West Pacific area (Japan/Australia/Fiji), the family of about 36 species in 10 genera includes both freshwater and marine types.

Most species have four pairs of barbels. The tail fin extends well up the back, and around to the anal fin below. Most types are small, with lengths of around 20 to 30 cm, but the gray eel-catfish can reach 150 cm (over 5 ft) and is fished commercially.

This catfish has a sting so strong that it may hospitalize a human.

[edit] References

• "Plotosidae". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. February 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.

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