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Clarias batrachus (= Clarias magur ).

Magur catfish

Freshwater airbreathing catfish from India and Bangladesh

Photo: Francis Day (1829–1889), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The magur catfish is a freshwater species found in India and Bangladesh. Scientists identified it as distinct from the walking catfish in 2008. It serves as a traditional food source in several regions.

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  • Recognized as distinct species in 2008
  • Eaten as magur curry in Bengal
  • Known as nga-kra in Manipur
  • Airbreathing freshwater catfish

What it is

This animal is a type of catfish that breathes air. It lives in fresh water bodies across parts of South Asia. For many years, experts grouped it with another common species. In 2008, researchers confirmed it is a separate biological entity. It shares its habitat with other local fish but has unique traits that set it apart from its close relatives.

Where it lives

The fish inhabits freshwater systems in India and Bangladesh. It is present in various states within India, including West Bengal, Karnataka, and Manipur. In coastal areas of Karnataka, locals know it by a specific regional name. The species thrives in inland waters rather than marine environments. Its distribution covers both eastern and southern parts of the Indian subcontinent.

How it lives

As an airbreathing catfish, it can survive in water with low oxygen levels. This adaptation allows it to live in stagnant or slow-moving freshwater habitats. Specific details about its daily behaviour, schooling habits, or natural predators are not provided in the available records. It likely feeds on small organisms found in its environment, typical for catfish species.

Breeding and life cycle

Information regarding the spawning season, egg laying, or growth of young fish is not included in the current data. The reproductive cycle and specific conditions required for breeding remain undocumented in this summary.

Magur catfish
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

People in Bangladesh and West Bengal eat this fish regularly. They prepare it as a light curry with spices like coriander and cinnamon. Many believe it helps restore strength during illness or weakness. Parents often feed it to children for this reason. In Manipur, it is viewed as a delicacy. Different regions use local names such as murgodu or mugudu to identify it.

Status and threats

There are no details on population trends, threats from fishing, or environmental protection measures currently in place for this specific taxon.

The species names / identity need verification - original names from plate are included here. The original plates showed the fishes facing right and have been flipped here. Clarias magur
The species names / identity need verification - original names from plate are included here. The original plates showed. Photo: R. Mintern, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Questions people ask about Magur catfish

Is the magur catfish different from the walking catfish?

Yes. Scientists recognized Clarias magur as a species distinct from Clarias batrachus in 2008. Before this date, they were often considered the same type of fish.

Why do people in Bengal eat magur catfish?

It is considered good for health during illness, particularly for body weakness. Families often prepare it as a light curry and feed it to children to help develop strength.

What is the magur catfish called in Karnataka?

In Karnataka, it is called murgodu. In the coastal regions of the state, people refer to it as mugudu. These are local names for the same freshwater species.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Clarias magur", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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