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| NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
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Common Name: whitespotted clarias
Synonyms and Other Names: Chinese catfish, puntat
Taxonomy: available through 
Identification: A few distinguishing characteristics and illustrations or photographs were given by Nichols (1943) and Masuda et al. (1984). Jordan and Evermann (1905) provided a detailed description of a specimen collected in Hawaii.
Size: 40 cm.
Native Range:
Eastern Asia in south China, Taiwan, and the island of Ishigakijima, Japan (Masuda et al. 1984).
Nonindigenous Occurrences: This species has been known from streams on the major islands of Hawaii since the late 1800s (Jordan and Evermann 1905; Brock 1960; Maciolek 1984; Devick 1991a, 1991b, Mundy 2005).
Means of Introduction: This catfish is believed to have been introduced to Hawaii from Asia by Chinese immigrants, prior to 1900 (Cobb 1902; Jordan and Evermann 1902, 1905; Maciolek 1984). Jordan and Evermann (1905) stated that the species "was introduced from China a few years ago . . ." The fish was introduced apparently as a food source (Devick 1991b). Cobb (1902) and Jordan and Evermann (1905) stated that the catfish was commonly raised in the irrigation ditches and freshwater ponds in Hawaii and typically sold alive to the Chinese.
Status: Cobb (1902) indicated that that this catfish was fairly common in the vicinity of Honolulu; Brock (1960) stated that it was established in the waters of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui prior to the turn of the century. Based on recent information, the species is considered established on the major islands of Hawaii, including Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Molakai, and Oahu; it is most common in stream habitats (Brock 1960; Maciolek 1984; Devick 1991a, 1991b).
Impact of Introduction: Unknown.
Remarks:
In Hawaii, this catfish inhabits the muddy bottoms of taro patches, streams, and ditches (Morita 1981). Cobb (1902) and Jordan and Evermann (1902) recorded the species found in Hawaii as Macropternotus maqur; Jordan and Evermann (1905) recognized it as Clarias fuscus (although in obvious error they use the name Clarias magur in one part of their report).
Voucher specimens: Hawaii (BPBM 3626, 3627, 30618).
Devick, W. S. 1991a. Disturbances and fluctuations in the Wahiawa Reservoir ecosystem. Project F-14-R-15, Job 4, Study I. Division of Aquatic Resources, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. 21 pp.
Devick, W. S. 1991b. Patterns of introductions of aquatic organisms to Hawaiian freshwater habitats. Pages 189-213 in new directions in research, management and conservation of Hawaiian freshwater stream ecosystems. Proceedings of the 1990 symposium on freshwater stream biology and fisheries management, Division of Aquatic Resources, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Maciolek, J. A. 1984. Exotic fishes in Hawaii and other islands of Oceania. Pages 131-161 in W. R. Courtenay, Jr., and J. R. Stauffer, Jr., editors. Distribution, biology, and management of exotic fishes. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.
Masuda, H., K. Amaoka, C. Araga, T. Uyeno, and T. Yoshino, editors. 1984. The fishes of the Japanese Archipelago. Tokai University Press. Text: i-xxii + 437 pp.; atlas: pls. 1-370.
Morita, C. M. 1981. Freshwater fishing in Hawaii. Division of Aquatic Resources, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Honolulu, HI. 21 pp.
Nichols, J. T. 1943. The freshwater fishes of China. Natural history of Central Asia volume IX. The American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY.
Other Resources:
Species Summary for Clarias fuscus whitespotted clarias (FishBase)
FishBase Fact Sheet
Author: Leo Nico
Revision Date: 4/11/2006 Citation for this information:
Leo Nico. 2009. Clarias fuscus. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.
<http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=487> Revision Date: 4/11/2006
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