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Silurus glanis  Linnaeus, 1758

Wels catfish
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Native range
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Silurus glanis   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Silurus glanis (Wels catfish)
Silurus glanis
Picture by Hartl, A.


country information

Common names: [No common name]
Occurrence:
Salinity:
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments:
National Checklist:
Country Information:
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
National Database:

Classification / Names

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Siluriformes (Catfish) > Siluridae (Sheatfishes)
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Common names from other countries

Main reference

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 500 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59043); common length : 300 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9988); max. published weight: 306.0 kg (Ref. 9988); max. reported age: 80 years (Ref. 59043)

Length at first maturity
Lm 87.5, range 86 - 108 cm

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 30 m (Ref. 9988)

Climate / Range

Temperate; 4°C - 20°C (Ref. 2059), preferred ?; 62°N - 36°N, 0°E - 80°E

Distribution

Europe and Asia. North, Baltic, Black, Caspian and Aral Sea basins, as far north as southern Sweden and Finland; Aegean Sea basin in Maritza and from Struma to Sperchios drainages; Turkey. Absent from the rest of Mediterranean basin. Now widely introduced and translocated throught Europe and Lake Balkhash basin in Kazakhstan. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction. In Appendix III of the Bern Convention (protected fauna).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 4-5; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 83 - 95. Distinguished from all other freshwater fishes in Europe by the following unique characters: two pairs of mental barbels; and anal fin with 83-91½ rays. Differs further from the following combination of features: body naked; large, depressed head; dorsal fin with 2-4½ rays; caudal fin rounded or truncate; no adipose fin; and anal rays almost touching caudal (Ref. 59043). Caudal fin with 17 rays (Ref. 2196).

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Inhabits large and medium size lowland rivers, backwaters and well vegetated lakes (Ref. 59043). Occurs mainly in large lakes and rivers, though occasionally enters brackish water in the Baltic and Black Seas (Ref. 9988). Found in deep waters of dams constructed on the lower reaches of rivers (Ref. 9696). A nocturnal predator, foraging near bottom and in water column. Larvae and juveniles are benthic, feeding on a wide variety of invertebrates and fish. Adults prey on fish and other aquatic vertebrates. Attains first sexual maturity at 2-3 years of age (Ref. 59043). Spawns in the salt water of the Aral Sea (at Kulandy) (Ref. 1441). Marketed fresh, canned and frozen; can be pan-fried and baked (Ref. 9988). Locally threatened due to river regulation destroying shallow spawning sites (Ref. 59043).

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Threat to humans

  Potential pest



Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes

More information

Age/Size
Growth
Length-weight
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Length-frequencies
Morphometrics
Morphology
Larvae
Larval dynamics
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References
Aquaculture
Aquaculture profile
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Allele frequencies
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Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
PD50 = 0.5001 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
4.4   ±0.2 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=3-4; tmax=30)

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)
Very high vulnerability (84 of 100)
Price category (Ref. 80766)
Unknown