Family : Plotosidae (Eeltail catfishes)
Order : Siluriformes  (catfish)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Gray eel-catfish
Fish Name : Plotosus canius
Max size : 150 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 5754)
Environment : demersal; amphidromous
Climate : tropical
Global Importance : fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Very low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: west and south coasts of India and off Sri Lanka eastward along the coasts of Bangladesh and Myanmar, through the Indo-Australian Archipelago and the Philippines as far as Papua New Guinea.
Diagnosis : A plain dusky-brown species with a black dorsal fin tip. Shows banded pattern at night. Distinguished from adult Plotosus lineatus by its long barbels on the nostrils that can reach pass the eyes.
Biology : Found mostly in estuaries and lagoons, and sometimes up rivers in nearly fresh waters. Occurs in the lower parts of rivers in freshwater or brackish water and in coastal seas (Ref. 12693, 48635). Juveniles may occur in dense aggregations (Ref. 9801). Feeds on crustaceans, mollusks and fishes. Marketed mostly fresh. Spines associated with anterior fins have potent venom
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : venomous , Ferraris, C.J. Jr.. 1999
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Gomon, J.R.. 1983. (Ref. 5754)

India country information
Common Names : Canine catfish-eel, വരി ചുങ്കം, മുഷു, ವಾಲ್ ಶಿಂಗ್ಟಿ , വാരി ചൂംഗും , വാരി ചൂംഗും  , ವಾಲ್ ಶಿಂಗಲ , இருங் கெழுத்தி, இருங் கெடட்த்தீ , இருங் கெளுத்தீ  , नरशिंगाळी, വരിചുണ്ടന് മുഷി, ఉంగిలయి  , മുഷു , Irung-keletee, Irung-kellettee, Kamda, Kan-magur, Mushu, Nalshingali, Ungilayi, Vari-choongum, Varichundan mushi, Wal shingala, Walshingala, Walshingti
Status : native
Salinity : freshwater, brackish, marine
Uses : no uses