Kunming Catfish

Head depressed; eyes small and located in anterior section of head; snout short; lower jaw longer than upper one and its end extending nearly to anterior edge of eyes; barbels 2 pairs, body naked. Body dark gray on back and sides, with cloudy streaks and milky white on belly.

Dorsal soft rays (total): 4 - 6; Analsoft rays: 61 - 73

Lives in the edge of the lake with plenty of waterweeds. Carnivore. Stays at bottom of water by day and comes out to the surface seeking food by dawn and dusk.

This carnivorous species lives in the edge of the lake with plenty of waterweeds where it stays at bottom of water by day and comes out to the surface seeking food by dawn and dusk (Ref. 45563, 117912). It relies on the macrophytes for shelter, the disappearance of which from the lake exposed these big fishes in the shallow water which resulted to increased mortality from its natural enemy and human beings. Predation of eggs and juveniles by the introducedspecies in the lake may also play an important role (Ref. 117912).

The Kunming catfish (Silurus mento) is a critically endangered species of catfish in the family Siluridae. It is endemic to Dian Chi Lake, China. There have been no confirmed records in decades and it is feared extinct. S. mento grows to a length of 21.5 centimetres (8.5 in) TL.