Striped Catfish

Plotosus lineatus

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Plotosidae
Genus: Plotosus
Species: Plotosus lineatus

The striped eel catfish (Plotosus lineatus) forms dense, rolling balls of juveniles that sweep across sand and seagrass. Its dark body has two white stripes and barbels around the mouth.

It grows to about 30 cm. Its fin spines are venomous and can cause very painful wounds, so it should never be handled. The school forages together, stirring up the sand for small invertebrates.

In the Philippines it is found over sand, rubble and seagrass, and a moving catfish ball is a memorable sight on any dive.