The shovelnose sea catfish (Arius subrostratus), also called the short-nosed catfish or the marine catfish,[1] is a species of sea catfish in the family Ariidae. It was described by Achille Valenciennes in 1840.[2]
It is a non-migratory species which inhabits tropical marine and brackish waters in the Indo-western Pacific region, including Indonesia, India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand. It dwells at a depth range of 0to. It reaches a maximum NG length of 39.5cm (15.6inches), while commonly reaching a total length of 12cm (05inches).
The diet of the shovelnose sea catfish includes detritus, polychaete worms, diatoms, algal weeds, and various crustaceans.[3]
It has been recorded spawning between the months of January–April and September–October in India.[4] Males incubate the eggs in their mouths.
The shovelnose sea catfish is of commercial value to fisheries; it is mostly marketed fresh.