Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D1, I+4; D2, 80-96; A, 65-71; P, I+10-11; V, 11-12  photo : David Darom

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body elongated, becoming compressed after anus. Head round, large and broad. Moderately large eye. Upper jaw overhanging with distinct lips. Conical teeth in upper jaw visible when mouth closed. Triangular vomerine patch with granular teeth. Four pairs of barbels, one nasal, one maxillary and two pairs on lower jaw. Two dorsal fins, the first with a stout spine. Second dorsal fin long and confluent with anal fin. A strong spine at pectoral fin origin. No Scales on the body. A distinct dendritic organ made of folded tissue. color : brown body with two narrow white stripes originating at snout, one crossing above eye, the other below. Ventral surface white, with brownish-red dendritic organ. size : 10-25 cm (max. 32 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Four pairs of barbels distinguish this fish from all other Mediterranean species. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds on benthic invertebrates, mainly crustaceans and small fish. Juveniles form dense groups that move back and forth over the substrate, resembling a large organism. habitat : inshore in a variety of habitats, including lagoons, sandy or rocky substrate. Rocky and coral reefs in its original distribution.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD 2002, Israel. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide: Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and east Africa to Japan and Samoa. Mediterranean: several specimens were recorded from Israel (Golani, 2002) and subsequently more were collected along the coast of Israel by trawl. More recently recorded in Lebanon and Egypt. ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Common. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS No commercial value. Dorsal and pectoral spines highly venomous. Several cases of injury were followed by hospitalization occurred in Israel.

KEY REFERENCES Chabanaud P., 1932. Poissons recueillis dans le Grand Lac Amer (Isthme de Suez) par M. le Professeur A. Gruvel en 1932. Bulletin du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, Series 2, 4: 822-835. Golani D., 2002. The Indo-Pacific striped eel catfish, Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg, 1787) (Osteichtyes: Siluriformes) a new record from the Mediterranean. Scientia Marina, 66: 321-323. Randall J.E., 1983. Red Sea Reef Fishes. IMMEL Pub. London. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: November 2013 ©ciesm 2002