Description

This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following: smallest in size; head length greater than the depth of body; small terminal mouth bearing nearly equal jaws and fleshy lips; united anal-caudal fin; pectoral spines completely separated from rays with 9-10 antrorse serrae along inner edge and 13-15 in outer edge; body colour blackish with two indistinct lateral bands on flank, with the ventral surface lighter (Ref. 94657).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Siluriformes

Family: Heteropneustidae

Genus: Heteropneustes

Species: Heteropneustes nani Hossain, Sarker, Sharifuzzaman & Chowdhury, 2013

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); This species is found in ponds, ditches, canals, flooded rice fields, swamps, marshes, waterlogged areas and rivers. Its air-breathing apparatus enables it to survive in low water depth, even in turbid and oxygen deficit conditions. During the winter season the fish can live in semi-liquid mud and when the mud dries up they burrow to the bottom of fissures and crevices formed by the cracking mud. Recorded physicochemical parameters during the study period are the following: water temperature 18-28°C; pH 6.5-7.5; dissolved oxygen 4.5-5.0 mg/l; water transparency 45-60 cm at 1.0-1.8 m depth. This fish is able to deliver a stinging protein (known as poison) emanated from the venom glands around the pectoral spine, and is reported to be neurotoxic and hemolytic (i.e. destruction of red blood cells) in humans, causing local numbness, inflammation and severe painful physical conditions on the affected limb (warm water bath, application of lukewarm turmeric paste, ejection of blood, and traditional herbal medicine are commonly used for healing). Still, its flesh is of good table quality and nutritional value. rich in iron and low fat, and a valuable source of protein (Ref. 94657).

Habitat

benthopelagic