Wallago

Wallago
Wallago micropogon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Siluridae
Genus: Wallago
Bleeker, 1851
Synonyms

Silurodon Kner, 1866

Wallago is a genus of catfishes order Siluriformes of the family Siluridae, or sheatfish. They are found in rivers throughout southern and southeastern Asia.[1] Though the genus contains more than one species, the name "wallago" is also used specifically as a common name for Wallago attu.

Taxonomy

The monophyly of this genus is ambiguous and it is not diagnosed by any synapomorphies.[1][2]

Species

There are currently 4 recognized species in this genus:

Description

The wallago species are large, predatory catfishes.[1] They have five rays in their dorsal fin. The caudal fin is deeply forked and has pointed lobes; it is disconnected from the anal fin, which differs from some of the other silurid genera.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ng, H.H. (2004). "Wallago micropogon: A New Species of Silurid Catfish (Teleostei: Siluridae) from Mainland Southeast Asia". Copeia 2004 (1): 92–97. doi:10.1643/ci-02-192r3.
  2. Roberts, T.R. (1982). "Systematics and Geographical Distribution of the Asian Silurid Catfish Genus Wallago, with a Key to the Species". Copeia 1982 (4): 890–894. doi:10.2307/1444099.


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