The Striped Catfish can be recognised by its striped colouration, barbels around the mouth, and its body shape which tapers to a point posteriorly. Small juveniles are black and large adults may be less distinctly striped.
The Striped Catfish grows to 35cm in length.
It eats mainly benthic invertebrates and algae with larger individuals sometimes eating small fishes.
This species is primarily tropical but has been recorded down the east and west coasts of Australia to Sydney, New South Wales and Esperance, Western Australia respectively. It lives in bays and estuaries where it is usually seen in dense schools