Plicofollis argyropleuron (Valenciennes, 1840)
Longsnouted catfish
photo by FAO

Family:  Ariidae (Sea catfishes), subfamily: Ariinae
Max. size:  50 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: South and southeast Asia, southern New Guinea and northern Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 14-21. Head depressed and elongate, 27 - 36% (mean 32%) of SL; exposed shield very striate or sharply granular. Narrow supraoccipital process, always keeled. Low set eyes. Small mouth, width 24 - 40% (mean 31%) of HL. Gill rakers absent on hind aspect of first 2 gill arches. Posterior epithelial ridges of palate run transversely. Caudal peduncle depth, 1.3 - 2.1 in its length (Ref. 38478).
Biology:  Occurs in inshore waters over soft bottoms (Ref. 7300). Feeds on detritus, prawns, soft-bodied organisms, and mud (Ref. 38478).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  traumatogenic


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