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copper catfish

Nemapteryx armiger

  • Fish
  • IUCN: Not evaluated
  • Usual depth1–4 m
  • Water temperature26–29 °C
  • Best monthsMay and June
  • How commonRare
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About this species

The threadfin catfish, also known as the copper catfish or the northern pout, is a species of catfish in the family Ariidae. It was described by Charles Walter De Vis in 1884, originally under the genus Arius. It is found in rivers and marine waters in Australia and New Guinea. It reaches a maximum standard length of 39.5 cm (15.6 in). Its diet consists of benthic crustaceans including prawns and crabs, as well as worms, mollusks and finfish.

Text from the Wikipedia article “Threadfin catfish”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

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Best months

Worldwide (open data)

  • January: 7 records
  • February: 1 records
  • March: 3 records
  • April: 5 records
  • May: 36 records
  • June: 36 records
  • July: 1 records
  • August: 6 records
  • September: 11 records
  • October: 1 records
  • November: 7 records
  • December: 3 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 1–4 m · Deepest record: 15 m

  • 0–10 m: 10 records
  • 10–20 m: 1 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 26–29 °C

  • 26–28 °C: 14 records
  • 28–30 °C: 51 records

Names and classification

English
copper catfish, Northern Pout, Threadfin Catfish

Other scientific names: Arius armiger, Arius stirlingi

Similar species

Sources and credits

Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).

  • Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
  • Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
  • Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
  • 170 open-data records from 1953 to 2012.
  • Species data updated November 4, 2026.

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