Sona sea catfish

Sona sea catfish
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Ariidae
Genus: Sciades
Species:
S. sona
Binomial name
Sciades sona
(Hamilton, 1822)
Synonyms
  • Arius sona (Hamilton, 1822)
  • Bagrus trachipomus Valenciennes, 1840
  • Hemiarius sona (Hamilton, 1822)
  • Hexanematichthys leptocassis Bleeker, 1861
  • Pimelodus sona Hamilton, 1822
  • Tachysurus sona (Hamilton, 1822)

The Sona sea catfish, also called the marine catfish or the dusky catfish, (Sciades sona) is a species of catfish in the family Ariidae. It was described by Francis Buchanan-Hamilton in 1822, originally under the genus Pimelodus. It inhabits rivers, estuaries and marine coasts around Pakistan, Indonesia, Polynesia and Thailand. It reaches a maximum total length of 92 cm (36 in), but more commonly reaches a TL of 55 cm (22 in). Its maximum known life expectancy is 6 years. Males and females mate for life.

The Sona sea catfish feeds on finfish and benthic invertebrates. Its meat is marketed fresh, as well as dried and salted.