The Kunming catfish (''Silurus mento'') is a
critically endangered species of
catfish
Catfish (or catfishes; order Siluriformes or Nematognathi) are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species alive, ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Siluridae
Siluridae is the nominate family of catfishes in the order Siluriformes. About 105 living species of silurids are placed in 12 or 14 genera.
Although silurids occur across much of Europe and Asia, they are most diverse in Southeast Asia, beyond ...
. It is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
Dian Chi Lake, China.
[ There have been no confirmed records in decades and it is feared extinct.][Wang, Wang, Li, Du, Yang, Lassoie, and Hassan (2013). ''Six decades of changes in vascular hydrophyte and fish species in three plateau lakes in Yunnan, China.'' Biodivers Conserv 22: 3197–3221. doi: 10.1007/s10531-013-0579-0] ''S. mento'' grows to a length of TL.
References
Silurus
Endemic fauna of Yunnan
Freshwater fish of China
Taxa named by Charles Tate Regan
Fish described in 1904
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
Critically endangered fish
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