Come identificare Wels Catfish

Per identificare Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis), osserva queste caratteristiche chiave.

Caratteristiche fisiche

Forma del corpo

eel-like

Colorazione

Typically dark olive to black on the back, fading to greenish-brown or yellowish-white on the flanks and belly. Often mottled or marbled with darker spots or stripes. Albino and xanthic forms exist.

Tipo di squame

none

Posizione della bocca

terminal

Caratteristiche distintive

Very long, compressed body, tapering towards the tail., Broad, flattened head with a very wide mouth., Six barbels: two very long barbels on the upper jaw (maxillary) and four shorter barbels on the lower jaw (mandibular)., Small, widely spaced eyes., Absence of scales, skin is smooth and slimy., A single, very small dorsal fin located far forward., A very long anal fin extending from mid-body to the caudal fin.

Pinna dorsale

Very small, with 3-5 soft rays, positioned anteriorly.

Pinna caudale

Rounded or slightly emarginate, confluent with the anal fin in larger specimens.

Pinna pettorale

Large and rounded, with a strong, serrated spine.

Pinne distintive

Anal fin is extremely long, extending for more than half the body length, with 83-92 soft rays.

Consigli per l'identificazione

1. 1

   Size

   Can reach lengths of over 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) and weights exceeding 100 kg (220 lbs), making it the largest freshwater fish in Europe. Record specimens have exceeded 5 meters and 300 kg.

2. 2

   Barbels

   Two very long maxillary barbels extending past the pectoral fins, and four shorter mandibular barbels. This is a key distinguishing feature from other catfish species.

3. 3

   Dorsal Fin

   Extremely small and positioned far forward on the body, almost vestigial compared to its massive size.

4. 4

   Anal Fin

   Unusually long, extending from the middle of the body to the caudal fin, giving the fish an eel-like appearance.

5. 5

   Skin

   Smooth, scaleless, and often mottled, distinguishing it from scaled fish and some other catfish species with rougher skin.

Esplora Wels Catfish