The Striped eel catfish - an interesting schooling fish of the Indian Ocean.

The Striped eel catfish is an interesting schooling fish from the family of Plotosidae. The Scientific name of this beautiful sea fish is Plotosus lineatus. It is also called as Catfish Eel, Eel-tailed Catfish, Lined Catfish, Striped Catfish Eel and Striped Eel Catfish. It is from the class of Actinopterygii and the genus name of the fish is Plotosus.

A pair of beautiful Striped eel catfish

Juvenile specimens live in large schools with 100s of fish in them which is an entertaining display for the aquarist but while adults it is live in smaller groups. They grow up and become aggressive towards smaller fish and crustaceans. This is the only species of catfish that lives on coral reefs. Adults Striped eel catfish can be reach about 30cm long, those seen on the intertidal range from tiny ones about 1cm, to juveniles about 15cm long. The Body of the fish is long and cylindrical, flattening into an eel-like tail. It has a dark brown, black or even maroon body with lighter color on the underside. The juveniles have very striking white stripes along their bodies. These strikes are less pronounced or even gone completely in adult specimens.

A bunch of beautiful Striped eel catfish.

The Striped eel catfish is native to the Indian Ocean, the western Pacific Ocean and New Guinea. The species is primarily tropical but has been recorded down the east and west coasts of Australia to Sydney, New South Wales, Western Australia respectively. It lives in bays and estuaries where it is usually seen in dense schools.