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{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Other uses of|yellow catfish|yellow catfish}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Yellow catfish
| image = The Manjakoori (Sun Catfish) from the Chalakudy River, Kerala.jpg
| status = VU
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref>{{cite iucn |last1=Raghavan |first1=R. |last2=Ali |first2=A. |year=2011 |title=''Horabagrus brachysoma'' |volume=2011 |errata=2020 |article-number=e.T172387A174791841 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T172387A174791841.en |access-date=12 November 2024}}>.</ref>
| taxon = Horabagrus brachysoma
| authority = ([[Albert Günther|Günther]], 1864)
| synonyms = {{hidden begin|title = List}}
* ''Horabagrus melanosoma'' Plamoottil & Abraham, 2013
* ''Macrones chryseus'' Day, 1865
* ''Mystus chryseus'' Day, 1865
* ''Pseudobagrus brachysoma'' Günther, 1864
* ''Pseudobagrus chryseus'' Day, 1865
{{hidden end}}
}}

'''''Horabagrus brachysoma''''' or the '''sun catfish''' is a [[species]] of [[catfish]] [[endemic]] to rivers in the [[Western Ghats]] of India. It is known as '''Günther's catfish''' or '''yellow catfish'''.<ref name=summary>{{cite journal |title=Threatened fishes of the world: ''Horabagrus brachysoma'' (Gunther, 1864) (Horabagridae) |author=Ali, P.H.A. |author2=Raghavan, R. |author3=Prasad, G. |journal=[[Environmental Biology of Fishes]] |year=2007 |volume=78 |page=221 |issue=3 |doi=10.1007/s10641-006-0022-4|s2cid=19334068 }}</ref> It is also known as '''Manjakoori''' in its native range.<ref name=diet>{{cite journal|title=The diet of ''Horabagrus brachysoma'' (Gunther), an endangered bagrid catfish from Lake Vembanad (South India)|author=Sreeraj, N.|author2=Raghavan, R.|author3=Prasad, G.|journal=[[Journal of Fish Biology]]|year=2006|volume=69|pages=637–642|issue=2|doi=10.1111/j.1095-8649.2006.01134.x}}</ref> It is also known by a host of other names, such as '''eclipse catfish''', '''bullseye catfish''', '''golden red tail catfish''', and '''solar catfish'''.<ref name=pcbrachy>{{cite web|url=https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=159|title=PlanetCatfish::Cat-eLog::''Horabagrus brachysoma''}}</ref>

==Description==
''H. brachysoma'' has a large head and a wide mouth. The eyes are large and can be seen from below the fish. There is a [[dorsal fin]] with a hard [[fish anatomy#Fins|spine]] as well as an [[adipose fin]].<ref name=bhat>{{cite journal|url=http://www.geocities.com/fishyanu/horabagrus.pdf|title=New Report of the Species, ''Horabagrus brachysoma'' in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka|author=Anuradha, B.|journal=[[Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society]]|year=2001|volume=98|issue=2|pages=294–296}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> There are four pairs of [[barbel (anatomy)|barbels]], one nasal, one maxillary (sides of the mouth), and two mandibular (chin).<ref name=bhat/> The body is yellowish with black shoulder spot surrounded by a lighter outline.<ref name=cotm>{{cite web|url=http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=107|title=PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::September 2001|date=2005}}</ref> This fish can reach a length of {{convert|45|cm|in}} [[fish measurement|TL]].<ref>{{FishBase species |genus= Horabagrus|species= brachysoma| month = April | year = 2015}}</ref>
[[File:Manjakkoory (Horabagrus brachysoma).jpg|thumb|''Full size adult Horabagrus brachysoma '']]

==Distribution==
''H. brachysoma'' is known from the [[Kerala Backwaters]], [[Vembanad Lake]], [[Chalakudy River]], [[Meenachil River]], [[Nethravathi River]] of south [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Abdul Muneer|first1=P. M.|last2=Gopalakrishnan|first2=A.|last3=Musammilu|first3=K. K.|last4=Mohindra|first4=Vindhya|last5=Lal|first5=K. K.|last6=Basheer|first6=V. S.|last7=Lakra|first7=W. S. |title=Genetic variation and population structure of endemic yellow catfish, ''Horabagrus brachysoma'' (Bagridae) among three populations of Western Ghat region using RAPD and microsatellite markers |journal=Molecular Biology Reports |date=2008 |volume=36 |issue=7 |pages=1779–1791 |doi=10.1007/s11033-008-9381-6|pmid=18979230|s2cid=28796684}}</ref> and the [[Uttara Kannada]] district of India.<ref name=bhat/> They occur in smooth flowing areas with much vegetation.

==Habitat and ecology==
''H. brachysoma'' is found in smooth flowing areas with much vegetation. [[Periyar (river)|Periyar river]] in Kerala state is the best habitat but now they are commonly seen in the [[Chalakudy River]] due to the less disturbed habitats. The population genetic structure of this species has been studied extensively by using genetic markers.<ref>Abdul Muneer, P.M., Gopalakrishnan, A., Musammilu, K.K., Basheer, V.S., Mohindra, V., Lal, K.K., Padmakumar, K.G. & Ponniah, A.G. (2012): Comparative assessment of genetic variability in the populations of endemic and endangered yellow catfish, ''Horabagrus brachysoma'' (Hoarabagridae) based on allozymes, RAPD and microsatellite markers. ''Biochemical Genetics, 50 (3-4): 192–212.''</ref><ref>Abdul Muneer, P.M., Gopalakrishnan, A., Lal, K.K. & Mohindra, V. (2007): Population genetic structure of endemic and endangered yellow catfish, ''Horabagrus brachysoma'' using allozyme markers. ''Biochemical Genetics, 45 (9-10): 637–645.''</ref> This species occupies lowland areas of rivers and backwaters with mud or sand substrate. It has also been recorded in deep pools and hill streams.<ref name=summary/>
The diet of ''H. brachysoma'' has been studied. It is an unspecialized feeder and eats a variety of meaty foods. Food items include [[crustacean]]s, [[mollusc]]s, and [[fish]]. Adults may consume terrestrial [[insect]]s and even [[frog]]s. Stomachs of these fish contain [[detritus]] which is indicative of its bottom-feeding habits.<ref name=diet/> This flexible diet is beneficial in its variable habitat, in which food availality is affected by [[monsoon]]s.<ref name=diet/> Feeding rate is known to increase during the breeding season in the months following the monsoon season.<ref name=diet/> Spawning occurs before the monsoons and finishes by the southwest monsoon in the summer.<ref name=summary/>

==Relationships with humans==
''H. brachysoma'' is an important food fish in India and is also sold in the [[aquarium]] trade. The [[IUCN]] considers ''H. brachysoma'' to be a [[vulnerable species]], while other have considered it to be an [[endangered species]].<ref name=biodiversity>{{cite journal|url=http://www.lars2.org/unedited_papers/unedited_paper/Kurup.pdf |title=Biodiversity Status of Fishes Inhabiting Rivers of Kerala (S.India) with Special Reference to Endemism, Threats, and Conservation Measures |author=Kurup, B.M. |author2=Radhakrishnan, K.V. |author3=Manojkumar, T.G. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008153352/http://www.lars2.org/unedited_papers/unedited_paper/Kurup.pdf |archive-date=2007-10-08 }}</ref> [[Overexploitation]], [[habitat destruction|habitat alteration]], [[pollution]] and related anthropogenic pressures on their natural habitats have considerably reduced populations of this species by 60–70% during the last few years.<ref name=diet/>
[[File:Horabagrus brachysoma From Kerala, India.jpg|thumb|''Horabagrus brachysoma'' from [[Chemmad]], Kerala, India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2052865}}

[[Category:Horabagridae]]
[[Category:Catfish of Asia]]
[[Category:Endemic fauna of India]]
[[Category:Freshwater fish of India]]
[[Category:Fauna of the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:Vulnerable fish]]
[[Category:Vulnerable fauna of Asia]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Albert Günther]]
[[Category:Fish described in 1864]]

Horabagrus brachysoma - Revision history

FXRChelsea at 16:51, 13 October 2025