Butter catfish facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Butter catfish
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Silurus bimaculatus Bloch, 1794 Callichrous bimaculatus (Bloch, 1794) Pseudosilurus bimaculatus (Bloch, 1794) Wallago bimaculatus (Bloch, 1794) Silurus chechra Hamilton, 1822 Callichrous chechra (Hamilton, 1822) Silurus duda Hamilton, 1822 Silurus affinis Swainson, 1839 Silurus nebulosus Swainson, 1839 Callichrous nebulosus (Swainson, 1839) Callichrus nebulosus (Swainson, 1839) Silurus microcephalus Valenciennes, 1840 Wallago microcephalus (Valenciennes, 1840) Silurus mysoricus Valenciennes, 1840 Pseudosilurus macropthalmos Blyth, 1860

The butter catfish, known scientifically as Ompok bimaculatus, is a special type of catfish. It belongs to a group of fish called sheatfishes. This fish is found in many parts of Asia.

You can find the butter catfish in countries like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Recently, it has also been seen in Myanmar and the Mekong River area of Vietnam.

About the Butter Catfish

A butter catfish swimming in water.

The butter catfish gets its name because of its very soft and delicate meat. People really like to eat this fish. It is often used to make tasty fish balls.

In Thailand, this fish has a local name, pla cha-on. It is also part of a larger group of similar catfish known as pla nuea on in the markets.

Size of the Butter Catfish

Male butter catfish can grow quite large. They can reach a length of up to 45 centimeters. That's about the length of a standard ruler and a half!