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Catfish species found for first time in Singapore’s only freshwater swamp

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ctnfish13 - The Encheloclarias kelioides catfish species which was recorded in the Nee Soon Swamp forest for the first time. 



Credit: Tan Heok Hui / Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

The Encheloclarias kelioides catfish species was recorded in the Nee Soon Swamp forest for the first time.

PHOTO: LEE KONG CHIAN NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

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SINGAPORE - A certain species of catfish was recently discovered to be residing in the moist, humid habitat of Singapore’s only remaining freshwater swamp – all this while eluding scientists who have been conducting extensive surveys there for 30 years.

The surreptitious species – known as Encheloclarias kelioides is among Asia’s most poorly understood clariid catfish, an air-breathing species characterised by their elongated bodies, lengthy barbels or whisker-like sensory organs, as well as their long dorsal and anal fins.

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