Mediterranean invasive species factsheet www.iucn-medmis.org
Species report Plotosus lineatus (Striped eel catfish)
AFFILIATION FISHES
SCIENTIFIC NAME AND COMMON NAME REPORTS Plotosus lineatus 5
Key Identifying Features The head is round, large and broad, with a mouth surrounded by 4 pairs of barbels, one Adult fish can reach lengths of about 32 cm, nasal pair, one maxillary pair and two pairs on commonly 10–25 cm. The body is long and the lower jaw. cylindrical, flattening into an eel-like tail. It has no scales. The body is brown with two narrow white stripes along each side, one running above the eye and the other below; the belly is white.
Two dorsal fins are present. There is a venomous serrated spine in the first dorsal fin and in each of the pectoral fins. The first dorsal fin is short, with 1 stout spine and 4 soft rays, and the second dorsal fin is long (85–105 soft rays) and confluent with the anal fin (70–81 soft rays).
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Identification and Habitat Ecological Impacts
This is the only catfish found in estuaries, It is a carnivorous species that feeds mostly on lagoons and open coasts of of sandy and muddy benthic invertebrates such as crustaceans, habitats. molluscs, polychaete worms and the occasional fish. The most dominant species consumed are The juveniles form dense schools, sometimes other alien species from the Red Sea. It is containing hundreds of individuals. The adults, thought that the increased abundance of these however, are solitary or occur in smaller groups prey species may have set the stage for the of around 20 individuals and are known to hide catfish to migrate, resulting in a complete under rock ledges during the day. change to the native community structure.
The adults are usually seen stirring the sand incessantly for crustaceans, molluscs, worms, Economic Impacts and sometimes fishes. Plotosus lineatus is taken as by-catch; however, there is no commercial value for this species Reproduction because of the highly venomous serrate spine in the first dorsal and pectoral fins. The venom is Striped eel catfish reaches sexual maturity after dangerous, and even fatal in rare cases, posing a 1–3 years, at a length of 140 mm. Spawning in threat to fishermen. The striped eel catfish has Israel occurs in the spring and recruitment from however a significant commercial value in the July to September. aquarium industry.
Similar Species Management Options
The four pairs of barbels together with the shape These include a) early eradication of new and colour of this catfish distinguish it from any populations by MPA technicians through hand other Mediterranean fish species. fishing, and b) maintenance of healthy and abundant assemblages of top predators to History and Route of encourage natural control through predation. Introduction Further Reading This is an Indo-Pacific species, occurring in the Red Sea and East Africa eastwards to Japan, Edelist D. et al., 2012. The invasive venomous Australia and Micronesia. It entered the striped eel catfish Plotosus lineatus in the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal, and was Levant: possible mechanisms facilitating its first found in Israel in 2002 by trawlers. Within 3 rapid invasional success. Marine Biology, Vol years, it had spread along the entire Israeli coast 159, Issue 2, 283-290 and it now inhabits all sandy and muddy substrates down to depths of approximately 80 http://www.ciesm.org/atlas/Plotosuslineatus.php m.
2013-2021 © IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation. More info: www.iucn-medmis.org Pag. 2/4 Mediterranean invasive species factsheet www.iucn-medmis.org
Map of sightings of the species Plotosus lineatus (Striped eel catfish)
Legend
Algae Angiosperm Cnidarians Centre for Mediterranean Molluscs Crustaceans Ascidians Cooperation Combjellies / Fishes Ctenophores
More Information: Guide and reports platform for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Mediterranean. www.iucn-medmis.org
2013-2021 © IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation. More info: www.iucn-medmis.org Pag. 3/4 Mediterranean invasive species factsheet www.iucn-medmis.org
MPAs, Country Date Density Measure
-- 29/10/2014 -- --
-- 14/05/2015 -- --
-- 14/05/2015 -- --
-- 04/04/2016 -- --
-- 07/07/2017 -- --
How to cite this tab: Plotosus lineatus - Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet for Mediterranean Network of MPAs. From Online Database MedMIS (IUCN Center for Mediterranean Cooperation, Download date 25/09/2021.
More information about this species from: Otero, M., Cebrian, E., Francour, P., Galil, B., Savini, D. 2013. Monitoring Marine Invasive Species in Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): A strategy and practical guide for managers. Malaga, Spain: IUCN. 136 pages www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2013-008-Es.pdf .
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