Ecology Summary - Plotosus lineatus

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Main Ref.	Thollot, P., 1996
Remarks	Widespread in coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific Region (Ref. 9137). Present in seagrass beds at juvenile stage (Ref. 41878). The only catfish found in coral reefs (Ref. 58534). Also found in estuaries, tide pools and open coasts. The aggregation takes on the appearance of a much larger creature or even inanimate objects, reducing the chances of predation (Ref. 54301). An omnivore that eats benthic animals, algae, and detritus (Ref. 9137). Adults search and stir the sand incessantly for crustaceans, mollusks, worms, and sometimes fish (Refs. 5213, 127989). The highly venomous serrate spine of the first dorsal and each of the pectoral fins are dangerous, and even fatal in rare cases (Ref. 1602). Dwells in lagoons, sandy or rocky substrates. In its native distribution, it dwells in rocky substrates and coral reefs (Ref. 127989). Shoaling species (Ref. 129713). Forms dense schools in reef areas, especially when juvenile. Dwells in estuaries and tidal pools. Feeds on crustaceans, crabs and shrimp (Ref. 9773).

Main Ref.

Thollot, P., 1996

Remarks

Widespread in coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific Region (Ref. 9137). Present in seagrass beds at juvenile stage (Ref. 41878). The only catfish found in coral reefs (Ref. 58534). Also found in estuaries, tide pools and open coasts. The aggregation takes on the appearance of a much larger creature or even inanimate objects, reducing the chances of predation (Ref. 54301). An omnivore that eats benthic animals, algae, and detritus (Ref. 9137). Adults search and stir the sand incessantly for crustaceans, mollusks, worms, and sometimes fish (Refs. 5213, 127989). The highly venomous serrate spine of the first dorsal and each of the pectoral fins are dangerous, and even fatal in rare cases (Ref. 1602). Dwells in lagoons, sandy or rocky substrates. In its native distribution, it dwells in rocky substrates and coral reefs (Ref. 127989). Shoaling species (Ref. 129713). Forms dense schools in reef areas, especially when juvenile. Dwells in estuaries and tidal pools. Feeds on crustaceans, crabs and shrimp (Ref. 9773).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Plotosus lineatus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate	Benthic; Soft Bottom: sand; Hard Bottom: rocky;
Substrate Ref.	Letourneur, Y., P. Chabanet, P. Durville, M. Taquet, E. Teissier, M. Parmentier, J.-C. Quéro and K. Pothin, 2004
Special habitats	Beds: sea grass; Coral Reefs;
Special habitats Ref.	Gell, F.R. and M.W. Whittington, 2002

Associations

Ref.	Kuiter, R.H. and T. Tonozuka, 2001
Associations	solitary; schooling; shoaling;
Associated with
Association remarks	Juveniles form dense ball-shaped schools of about 100 fish; adults are solitary or occur in smaller groups of around 20 and are known to hide under ledges during the day (Ref. 1602, 5503, 12693, 37816, 48635).
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type	mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref.	Thollot, P., 1996
Feeding habit	other
Feeding habit Ref.	Thollot, P., 1996

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	Original sample		Unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition	3.57	0.30	3.42	0.49	Troph of juv./adults from 1 study.
From individual food items	3.60	0.46			Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.	Horinouchi, M. and M. Sano, 2000

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