Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg, 1787)

Brackish, Marine, Fishery

The male in the spawning pair constructs the nest under rocks and other large pieces of debris . After spawning, the female departs while the male guards the eggs.

Amphidromous. Refers to fishes that regularly migrate between freshwater and the sea (in both directions), but not for the purpose of breeding, as in anadromous and catadromous species. Sub-division of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Widespread in coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific Region . Present in seagrass beds at juvenile stage . The only catfish found in coral reefs . Also found in estuaries, tide pools and open coasts. The aggregation takes on the appearance of a much larger creature or even inanimate objects, reducing the chances of predation . An omnivore that eats benthic animals, algae, and detritus . Adults search and stir the sand incessantly for crustaceans, mollusks, worms, and sometimes fish . The highly venomous serrate spine of the first dorsal and each of the pectoral fins are dangerous, and even fatal in rare cases .

Coccomyxa Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Gyrodactylus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Septemcapsula Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ;

Habitat reef-associated; amphidromous ; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 60 m

Not Evaluated IUCN 2006

fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial