體延(yan)長(chang)(chang),前部(bu)縱扁,后(hou)部(bu)側(ce)扁。頭寬。吻長(chang)(chang),圓鈍(dun)。口大,亞(ya)上(shang)位,口裂后(hou)端(duan)(duan)(duan)達(da)眼(yan)后(hou)緣垂直下方。上(shang)、下頜(he)及犁骨均具(ju)尖(jian)細齒,形(xing)(xing)成弧形(xing)(xing)寬齒帶,兩端(duan)(duan)(duan)尖(jian)細。眼(yan)小(xiao)(xiao),側(ce)上(shang)位。前鼻(bi)孔呈(cheng)(cheng)短管狀(zhuang),后(hou)鼻(bi)孔圓形(xing)(xing)。頜(he)須長(chang)(chang),尖(jian)端(duan)(duan)(duan)具(ju)顆粒狀(zhuang)的皮褶塊,后(hou)伸可(ke)超過臀鰭(qi)(qi)(qi)起(qi)點(dian),外側(ce)頜(he)須長(chang)(chang)于內側(ce)。背鰭(qi)(qi)(qi)小(xiao)(xiao),無硬刺(ci)。臀鰭(qi)(qi)(qi)長(chang)(chang),后(hou)端(duan)(duan)(duan)與尾鰭(qi)(qi)(qi)相連。胸鰭(qi)(qi)(qi)硬刺(ci)較(jiao)弱,前后(hou)緣光滑,鰭(qi)(qi)(qi)條后(hou)伸不達(da)腹鰭(qi)(qi)(qi)起(qi)點(dian)。腹鰭(qi)(qi)(qi)起(qi)點(dian)位于背鰭(qi)(qi)(qi)基后(hou)端(duan)(duan)(duan)垂直下方之后(hou),鰭(qi)(qi)(qi)條后(hou)伸超過臀鰭(qi)(qi)(qi)起(qi)點(dian)。肛(gang)門(men)具(ju)臀鰭(qi)(qi)(qi)較(jiao)距腹鰭(qi)(qi)(qi)近。尾鰭(qi)(qi)(qi)內凹(ao),上(shang)葉略長(chang)(chang)。體呈(cheng)(cheng)褐(he)灰(hui)色,側(ce)面色淺,腹部(bu)灰(hui)白色,體側(ce)有不規則(ze)暗紋。各鰭(qi)(qi)(qi)色暗。
懷(huai)頭鲇屬溫水(shui)(shui)性魚類,生(sheng)(sheng)存適宜的溫度(du)范圍為0-32攝(she)氏度(du),最(zui)適生(sheng)(sheng)長水(shui)(shui)位為18-26攝(she)氏度(du)。喜歡清(qing)水(shui)(shui)和高溶氧(yang),正(zheng)常生(sheng)(sheng)長是要求水(shui)(shui)中榮氧(yang)含量為3.5毫克/升以上(shang)。適宜的pH范圍為6.5-9.0,最(zui)適pH范圍為7.0-8.0。
懷頭鲇喜棲于(yu)江河及支流(liu)(liu)的緩流(liu)(liu)處,附屬湖泊中(zhong)少見(jian)。。為中(zhong)、下(xia)層魚類(lei)。性格不很活潑,白天多棲息(xi)于(yu)水(shui)體底層,夜間游(you)至淺水(shui)處覓食(shi)。秋后則居于(yu)深水(shui)或(huo)在污(wu)泥中(zhong)越冬(dong)(dong)。冬(dong)(dong)季攝食(shi)強(qiang)度(du)減弱。
懷頭(tou)鲇在自然水(shui)(shui)域中的(de)性(xing)(xing)(xing)成熟(shu)年(nian)齡(ling)為4-5齡(ling),性(xing)(xing)(xing)成熟(shu)體(ti)長40厘(li)米(mi)左右。成熟(shu)個體(ti)每年(nian)6月初即開始沿江河游到(dao)上游有(you)水(shui)(shui)草的(de)江岔(cha)中產卵,7月中旬結束。人工繁殖8月中旬還可(ke)催產一批。成熟(shu)雌(ci)性(xing)(xing)(xing)的(de)相對懷卵量為每公斤體(ti)重18728-20011粒。卵徑1.5~3.0毫米(mi),卵遇水(shui)(shui)即具(ju)有(you)粘性(xing)(xing)(xing),但不(bu)如(ru)鯉、鯽魚(yu)卵的(de)粘性(xing)(xing)(xing)強。水(shui)(shui)溫21-24攝(she)氏(shi)度,受精卵需(xu)經(jing)過36小(xiao)時至(zhi)52小(xiao)時孵(fu)化(hua)出魚(yu)苗。
營養價值
懷頭鲇(nian)(nian)(nian)的含肉率低于南方大口(kou)鲇(nian)(nian)(nian)和鲇(nian)(nian)(nian),但懷頭鲇(nian)(nian)(nian)肌肉氨(an)(an)基(ji)酸總量、4種鮮(xian)味氨(an)(an)基(ji)酸總量以及(ji)8種人體必需氨(an)(an)基(ji)酸總量均高于南方大口(kou)鲇(nian)(nian)(nian)和鲇(nian)(nian)(nian)。