Family : Clariidae (Airbreathing catfishes)
Order : Siluriformes  (catfish)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Walking catfish
Fish Name : Clarias batrachus
Max size : 47.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 40637); max. published weight: 1,190 g (Ref. 40637)
Environment : demersal; potamodromous ; depth range - 1 m
Climate : tropical; 10 - 28°C; 29°N - 7°S
Global Importance : fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.7 (in aquarium); tm=1; Fec=2,300-13,400)Distribution : Asia: Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo. Reported from Sri Lanka; popular for aquaculture in its native range but not regarded as such in other Southeast Asian countries. Trade restricted in Germany (Anl.3 BArtSchV) (Ref. 1739). Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 60-76; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 47-58. Body compressed posteriorly. Upper jaw a little projecting. Spine of pectoral fins rough on its outer edge and serrated on its inner edge (Ref. 4792). Occipital process more or less triangular, its length about 2 time in its width (Ref. 27732); distance between dorsal and occipital process 4-5.5 times in distance from tip of snout to end of occipital process (Ref. 43281). Genital papilla in males is elongated and pointed (Ref. 52012).
Biology : Inhabits lowland streams (Ref. 57235), swamps, ponds, ditches, rice paddies, and pools left in low spots after rivers have been in flood (Ref. 2854, 57235). Usually confined to stagnant, muddy water (Ref. 1479). Found in medium to large-sized rivers, flooded fields and stagnant water bodies including sluggish flowing canals (Ref. 12975). Undertakes lateral migrations from the Mekong mainstream, or other permanent water bodies, to flooded areas during the flood season and returns to the permanent water bodies at the onset of the dry season (Ref. 37770). Can live out of water for quite sometime and move short distances over land (Ref. 4833). Can walk and leave the water to migrate to other water bodies using its auxiliary breathing organs. The Lao use this fish as lap pa or ponne pa. Feeds on insect larvae, earthworms, shells, shrimps, small fish, aquatic plants and debris (Ref. 6459). An important food fish (Ref. 4833) that is marketed live, fresh and frozen (Ref. 9987). Recently rare, due to replacing of introduced African walking catfish (Ref. 57235)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : potential pest , Halstead, B.W., P.S. Auerbach and D.R. Campbell. 1990
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Rahman, A.K.A.. 1989. (Ref. 1479)

India country information
Common Names : Magur, ਫਲ਼ੀ, ਕੁਘਾ, மசரை, मंगरी, మారపు, ഏരിവാള, യെരിവാളൈ , യെരിവാളൈ  , மாசறை , Halimeena, Karupputheli, Khamagur, Kug-ga, Kugga, Magur, Magur, Magur, Magurah, Maguro, Mah-gur, Mahgur, Mahgur, Mangri, Mangur, Manguri, Marpoo, Marpulu, Masarai, Mazhu, Musi, Muzhi, Ngakra, Nya-hara, Valay, Wagur, Yeri, Yerivahlay
Status : native
Salinity : freshwater, brackish
Uses : no uses