Hemibagrus spilopterus Ng & Rainboth 1999

Can be differentiated from its congeners by a unique combination of the following characters: adipose fin short (length of adipose-fin base 11.3-12.7% SL; 1.72-2.20 times maximum adipose height) with a steep anterior margin (length of adipose-fin base and a distinct black spot on the posterior half); head width 20.6-23.4% SL; dorsal to adipose distance 12.7-16.2% SL; and absence of filamentous extensions on the first three dorsal-fin rays in adults.

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Analsoft rays: 12 - 14; Vertebrae: 43 - 44

Feeds on exogenous insects, aquatic insect larvae, shrimps and other crustaceans, as well as fishes. In Cambodian Mekong, it moves into flooded forest to spawn and the young are first observed in August, with the adults returning to rivers in November and December.