Silurus triostegus

Common name. Mesopotamian catfish.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from S. glanis by: ● usually one pair of mental barbels in adults larger than 400 mm SL / ● maxillary barbel usually about equal to head length / ● if anterior mandibular barbel present, shorter than posterior mandibular barbel / ● usually two patches of vomerine teeth / ● pectoral spine strongly serrated on its inner margin. Size up to about 2000 mm SL.

Distribution . Euphrates, Tigris, and Karun drainages.

Habitat. Large rivers, marshes, lakes, and reservoirs.

Biology. Lives up to 12 years in the wild, likely much longer. Spawns first time after 2–3 years (Atatürk reservoir).

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. All the diagnostic characters may overlap with those of S. glanis, but the combination of all the characters should allow its identification. So far, and despite many introductions of Silurus, the two species are still allopatric.

Further reading. Oymak et al. 2001 (biology).