Squarehead catfish

Chaca chaca

FAMILY

Chacidae

TAXONOMY

Platystacus chaca Hamilton, 1822, northeastern Bengal.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Angler catfish, chaca, chega, Indian frog-mouth catfish; Spanish: Bagre cabezicuadrado.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Length 9.1 in (23 cm). Body compressed posteriorly; with many fine granulations; dorsal fin with a short spine and four soft rays; adipose fin a low ridge confluent with caudal fin; pectoral fin with one serrated spine and five soft rays; pelvic fins large, with six rays; a row of cirri above the lateral line; head broad and depressed, almost square, with a deep longitudinal groove located dorsally; mouth terminal, very wide, provided with appendages resembling barbels; three pairs of small barbels; eyes very small.

DISTRIBUTION

Asia in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

HABITAT

Freshwater; bottom dweller in rivers, canals, ponds, and flood plains.

BEHAVIOR

Prefers soft bottoms, where it hides lying still on the river bed. Depends completely on this concealment for protection, remaining motionless even after being touched.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Sometimes moves its tiny maxillary barbels in a jerky motion to lure small fishes, including gouramies and cyprinids, near its large mouth; may take fishes as large as one-half its length.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Nothing known.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not listed by the IUCN.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Commonly fished but not eaten probably due to its odd appearance. Sometimes used as an aquarium fish. The dorsal spine can inflict painful wounds if the fish is stepped on.