Distinctive characters : Body elongated, compressed. Abdomen rounded. Head moderate sized.greately depressed. Snout broadly rounded or pointed. Jaws subequal; upper jaw longer. Four pairs of barbels, one pair each of maxillary, nasal & two of mandibular. Gill membranes deeply notched, partly united with each other, free from isthmus. Rayed dorsal fin long, with 62 to 77 raysnd without any spine, Pectoral fins with 7 to 11 rays and a strongly serrated spine; spine enveloped in skin. Pelvic fins with 6 rays. Anal fin long with 45-63 rays, Caudal fin almost rounded.

Species: Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus)