Taxonomy & naming
Described by Albert Gunther in 1867 as a Copidoglanis and later moved to Neosilurus, hence the parentheses. The Catalog of Fishes gives the type locality as Nicol Bay, Cape York, Queensland, Australia. It is a valid species there.
Morphology
Neosilurus are eel-tailed catfishes: a long body with a tapering tail that merges the dorsal, caudal and anal fins, four pairs of barbels and a spined pectoral and dorsal fin. FishBase gives a maximum of 8 in SL for this species, and says it reaches sexual maturity at about 4.5 in.
Habitat
FishBase lists northern Australia and central-southern New Guinea. It occurs in lakes, swamps and rivers, from turbid backwaters to clear, flowing tributaries, on the bottom of warm, clear streams, and in billabongs and flooded lagoons.
Feeding
A bottom feeder on insects, prawns, molluscs and small crayfish, according to FishBase.
Mating
Mating behaviour is not documented for Neosilurus brevidorsalis in the sources available to the atlas. Sexes cannot be separated reliably from the information available.
Breeding
No aquarium breeding record is known to the atlas.
In the aquarium
Plotosid catfish carry venomous fin spines, so net with care and wear gloves for handling. Offer a large tank with warm, clear, flowing water, hiding places and sinking foods. It will eat small tankmates.
Conservation
The IUCN Red List assessed Neosilurus brevidorsalis as Least Concern in 2019.