體延長,前(qian)部(bu)縱扁,后(hou)(hou)(hou)部(bu)側扁。頭寬(kuan)。吻長,圓(yuan)鈍(dun)。口(kou)大,亞上(shang)位(wei),口(kou)裂后(hou)(hou)(hou)端達(da)眼(yan)后(hou)(hou)(hou)緣垂(chui)直下方(fang)。上(shang)、下頜及犁骨均(jun)具尖(jian)細齒(chi),形(xing)成(cheng)弧形(xing)寬(kuan)齒(chi)帶,兩端尖(jian)細。眼(yan)小(xiao),側上(shang)位(wei)。前(qian)鼻孔呈短管狀,后(hou)(hou)(hou)鼻孔圓(yuan)形(xing)。頜須長,尖(jian)端具顆粒狀的皮褶塊,后(hou)(hou)(hou)伸(shen)可超過臀(tun)鰭(qi)(qi)起點(dian)(dian)(dian),外側頜須長于(yu)內側。背鰭(qi)(qi)小(xiao),無硬(ying)刺(ci)。臀(tun)鰭(qi)(qi)長,后(hou)(hou)(hou)端與尾鰭(qi)(qi)相連。胸鰭(qi)(qi)硬(ying)刺(ci)較弱,前(qian)后(hou)(hou)(hou)緣光滑(hua),鰭(qi)(qi)條后(hou)(hou)(hou)伸(shen)不(bu)達(da)腹(fu)鰭(qi)(qi)起點(dian)(dian)(dian)。腹(fu)鰭(qi)(qi)起點(dian)(dian)(dian)位(wei)于(yu)背鰭(qi)(qi)基(ji)后(hou)(hou)(hou)端垂(chui)直下方(fang)之后(hou)(hou)(hou),鰭(qi)(qi)條后(hou)(hou)(hou)伸(shen)超過臀(tun)鰭(qi)(qi)起點(dian)(dian)(dian)。肛門具臀(tun)鰭(qi)(qi)較距(ju)腹(fu)鰭(qi)(qi)近。尾鰭(qi)(qi)內凹,上(shang)葉略長。體呈褐灰色(se),側面色(se)淺,腹(fu)部(bu)灰白色(se),體側有不(bu)規則暗紋。各(ge)鰭(qi)(qi)色(se)暗。
懷頭鲇屬溫水性魚(yu)類,生(sheng)存適(shi)宜的溫度(du)范(fan)(fan)圍為(wei)(wei)0-32攝氏度(du),最適(shi)生(sheng)長水位為(wei)(wei)18-26攝氏度(du)。喜歡(huan)清水和高溶氧(yang),正常生(sheng)長是(shi)要求水中榮氧(yang)含量為(wei)(wei)3.5毫克/升以上。適(shi)宜的pH范(fan)(fan)圍為(wei)(wei)6.5-9.0,最適(shi)pH范(fan)(fan)圍為(wei)(wei)7.0-8.0。
懷頭鲇(nian)喜(xi)棲于江河及支(zhi)流的緩流處,附屬湖泊中(zhong)少(shao)見。。為中(zhong)、下層魚類。性格不很活潑,白天多棲息于水(shui)體(ti)底(di)層,夜間游至淺(qian)水(shui)處覓食。秋后則居于深水(shui)或在污泥中(zhong)越冬。冬季攝食強度(du)減弱。
懷(huai)頭鲇在自然水域中(zhong)的性(xing)成熟年齡(ling)為(wei)4-5齡(ling),性(xing)成熟體長(chang)40厘(li)米左右。成熟個體每(mei)年6月初即開始沿江河游(you)到(dao)上游(you)有水草的江岔中(zhong)產卵,7月中(zhong)旬結束(shu)。人工繁殖8月中(zhong)旬還可催產一批(pi)。成熟雌性(xing)的相對(dui)懷(huai)卵量為(wei)每(mei)公(gong)斤體重18728-20011粒。卵徑(jing)1.5~3.0毫米,卵遇水即具有粘性(xing),但不(bu)如鯉、鯽魚(yu)卵的粘性(xing)強。水溫21-24攝氏度,受(shou)精卵需經過(guo)36小(xiao)時至52小(xiao)時孵(fu)化出(chu)魚(yu)苗。
營養價值
懷頭(tou)鲇的含肉(rou)率低于南方(fang)(fang)大(da)口(kou)鲇和鲇,但懷頭(tou)鲇肌肉(rou)氨基酸總(zong)量(liang)(liang)、4種(zhong)鮮味氨基酸總(zong)量(liang)(liang)以及8種(zhong)人(ren)體必需氨基酸總(zong)量(liang)(liang)均高于南方(fang)(fang)大(da)口(kou)鲇和鲇。