Family Bagridae

Bagrid catfishes

Bagridae is a family of approximately 16 genera and 225 species widely distributed in Asia. Bagrus, is found only in Africa. All other African genera formerly included in the Bagridae are now placed in different families. In Asia, bagrids exhibit a wide range of body shapes and sizes. The giant Indian catfishes of the genus Sperata, which reach 2000 mm total length, represent one extreme, while the 29 mm SL dwarf leaf-litter dwellers, such as the Nanobagrus immaculatus from Borneo, represent the other. All large- and medium-sized bagrids are sought for commercial species, several of which are valued for aquaculture. Mystus, with approximately 52 valid species, is the largest genus in the family, comprising mostly middle-sized and morphologically generalised species. One species, M. gulio, is known to frequently enter brackish and marine waters, with records from the coast of Pakistan, situated not far from the border with Iran. Other species are strict freshwater inhabitants. Mystus species exhibit only moderate tolerance to low water temperatures, with most species being abundant in the lower reaches of the Euphrates and Tigris ( M. pelusius) and warm springs ( M. cyrusi, M. misrai).

Further reading. Ferraris 2007 (diversity); Nelson et al. 2016 (diversity).

Key to species of Mystus in West Asia

1a - No stripes on flank; eye below dorsal head profile, not protruding. ……………… M. misrai

1b - Flank with a wide, dark-brown, mid-lateral stripe, followed by a wide silvery stripe above and below, a narrow slivery line along lateral midline; eye at or slightly above dorsal head profile, usually protruding. ………………2

2a - Maxillary barbel not reaching to pelvic origin; adipose with a steep slope at its origin. ……………… M. cyrusi

2b - Maxillary barbel reaching to or beyond of pelvic origin; adipose with a gentle slope at its origin. ……………… M. pelusius