Family : Notopteridae (Featherbacks or knifefishes)
Order : Osteoglossiformes  (bony tongues)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Bronze featherback
Fish Name : Notopterus notopterus
Max size : 60.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 7050)
Environment : demersal; potamodromous; pH range: 6 - 6.5; dH range: 3 - 8
Climate : tropical; 24 - 28°C; 35°N - 10°S
Global Importance : fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Asia: Indus, Ganges-Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Krishna, Cauvery, and other river basins in southern India; Irrawaddy, and Salween; Meklong, Chao Phraya, Mekong and virtually all coastal river basins of peninsular Thailand and Malaysia; Sumatra and Java. Has never been reported in Borneo and is not present in the Red River basin of Tonkin (North Viet Nam).
Diagnosis : Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-9; Anal soft rays: 97-111. Distinguishable by its plain brown adult coloration and the convex or only slightly concave dorsal head profile; juveniles (
Biology : Found in clear streams and enters brackish waters (Ref. 4832). Inhabits standing and sluggish waters of lakes, floodplains, canals and ponds (Ref. 12693). Undertakes localized lateral migrations from the Mekong River to floodplains during the flood season and back to the mainstream or other permanent water bodies during the dry season (Ref. 37770). Common in tanks throughout the greater parts of India. Feeds on insects, fish (Ref. 12693), crustaceans and some young roots of aquatic plants (Ref. 6459). Active during twilight and night. Colonizes and breeds seasonally during rainy days and migrates back to permanent waters in dry season (Ref. 12693). Breeding takes place in stagnant or running waters in the rainy season. Eggs are laid in small clumps on submerged vegetation. A female measuring 21-25 cm usually lays 1,200-3,000 eggs. The fish is relished both in fresh and dried state. Soup made from it is reported to be given to people with measles (Ref. 7431). Of high economic important food fish in South and Southeast Asia to Borneo and Sumatra taken by all types of small-scale fishing gears (Ref. 57235)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Roberts, T.R.. 1992. (Ref. 7431)

India country information
Common Names : Feather back, ਬੁਟ, ਮੋਹ, ਪਾਈ, വാള, पतरा, फूली, ਬਾੱਟੂ, ਪੁੱਰੀ, சின்ன வாழை, கோட்டா வாழை, சோட்டா வாழை, அம்பட்ட காத்தீ, சென்னவலை, അംബട്ടന് വാള, சப்பாத்தி, അന്വട്ടന് വാള, அம்பட்டண் வாழை, அம்பட்டன் வாழை, അന്പട്ടന് കാതി, அம்பட்டண் கத்தி, അന്വട്ടന് കത്തി, ఉలకతట్ట , Ambattan valai, Ambattan vazhai, Ambattan-kathi, Ambattankathi, Battu, But, Chalat, Chamari, Chappali, Chappali-chamari, Chappathi, Chennavalai, Chinna vazhai, Chottavalai, Cotta vazhai, Grey featherback, Kandla, Kanduli, Moh, Patre, Payi, Pholi, Pholui, Purri, Ulakathatta, Vala
Status : native
Salinity : freshwater, brackish
Uses : no uses