Wallago attu

Wallago attu
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Siluridae
Genus: Wallago
Species:
W. attu
Binomial name
Wallago attu
Synonyms

Silurus boalis Hamilton, 1822
Silurus wallagoo Valenciennes, 1840
Silurus muelleri Bleeker, 1846
Wallago russellii Bleeker, 1853

Wallago attu, the Sareng catfish is a freshwater catfish of the family Siluridae, native to South and Southeast Asia. W. attu is found in large rivers and lakes in two geographically disconnected regions (disjunct distribution), with one population living over much of the Indian Subcontinent and the other in parts of Southeast Asia. This species can reach a length up to 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in).[2]

It shares parts of its native range with the externally similar, but much larger Wallagonia leerii, and is subsequently often confused for it. It can, however, be differentiated by its relatively long and narrower head, as well as its dorsal fin, which is high and sharp, opposed to that of W. leerii, which is lower and rounded. Additionally, the eyes of W. attu lie above the mouth of the fish, whilst they lie on the same level as the mouth in W. leerii.

This catfish is one of the fish species that has been used as food in Southeast Asia since ancient times.[3]

  1. ^ Ng, H.H.; de Alwis Goonatilake, S.; Fernado, M.; Kotagama, O. (2019). "Wallago attu". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T166468A174784999. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T166468A174784999.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Roberts, T.R. (2014): Wallago Bleeker, 1851 and Wallagonia Myers, 1938 (Ostariophysi, Siluridae), Distinct Genera of Tropical Asian Catfishes, with Description of †Wallago maemohensis from the Miocene of Thailand. Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, 55 (1): 35-47.
  3. ^ Charles Higham, A. Kijnga ed. The Origins of the Civilization of Angkor: Volume VI The Iron Age. page 43. IV 'The Fish Remains'