Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
Asia: Mekong, Chao Phraya (Ref. 43281), Maeklong, Peninsular and Southeast Thailand river systems (Ref. 26336).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 30.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30857)
Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 53; Anal soft rays: 49; Vertebrae: 75. Distinguishable by its dorsal spine count of 13-19 and a series of 3-6 conspicuous ocelli along the base of the soft dorsal fin (Ref. 27732). The ocelli along the base of the dorsal fin are much larger than those in M. aral and the dorsal and caudal fins lack the fine striations seen in M. aral and M. meklongensis (Ref. 39392). Dorsal, caudal and anal fins not fused (Ref. 43281).
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like.
Adults are found at bottom depths in slow-moving or standing waters often buried in the silt, sand, or fine gravel with only a portion of the head protruding from the bottom (Ref. 12693). They enter flooded forest (Ref. 9497). Emerges at dusk to forage for food. Foof consists of benthic insect larvae, crustaceans, and worms (Ref. 12693). Migratory behaviour is undetermined (Ref. 126106). Marketed fresh and often seen in the aquarium trade (Ref. 12693).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kottelat, M., 1998. Fishes of the Nam Theun and Xe Bangfai basins, Laos, with diagnoses of twenty-two new species (Teleostei: Cyprinidae, Balitoridae, Cobitidae, Coiidae and Odontobutidae). Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 9(1):1-128. (Ref. 27732)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2 (Global))
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00295 (0.00136 - 0.00638), b=2.94 (2.77 - 3.11), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.40 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100).
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