Clown featherback | |
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Sub-adult specimen | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Osteoglossiformes |
Family: | Notopteridae |
Genus: | Chitala |
Species: | C. ornata
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Binomial name | |
Chitala ornata J. E. Gray, 1831
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The clown featherback (Chitala ornata), also known as the clown knifefish and spotted knifefish, is a nocturnal species of tropical fish with a long, knife-like body. This knifefish is native to freshwater habitats in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Macau, Thailand, and Vietnam,[2] but it has also been introduced to regions outside its native range.[1] It is one of the world's most invasive species.
It is often seen in aquaculture and the aquarium trade, where it is frequently confused with Chitala chitala; the latter species is very rare in the aquarium trade.[3][4] The clown featherback reaches 1 m (3.3 ft) in length,[2] outgrowing all but the largest aquaria, yet it is popular.[3]