Hito
Also known as: Walking catfish · Freshwater catfish
Definition
Hito is the walking catfish, a scaleless freshwater catfish with prominent barbels that can survive out of water and wriggle over moist ground. It is widely farmed and caught in rivers, lakes, and rice fields throughout the Philippines and is commonly served grilled or in soup.
Identities
| Source Type | Identity |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | Clarias batrachus |
| Wikidata | Q852229 |
| DBpedia | N/A |
Also Known As
- Walking catfish
- Freshwater catfish
Examples and Analogies
Hito is the Philippines’ answer to the catfish of the American South, a whiskered bottom-dweller equally at home in pond culture and backyard ponds. Its ability to walk over land between waters mirrors the famous invasive walking catfish of Florida, though in its native range it is simply a resilient farm fish.
Usage Scenarios
Hito is raised in freshwater ponds and tanks, caught in rivers and rice fields, and served grilled, adobo-style, or in sinigang. Its hardiness makes it a favorite for small-scale aquaculture and school pond projects.
Strategies
Strategies include improved hatchery techniques, feeding with affordable local ingredients, culture in backyard ponds for food security, and careful sourcing of stocks to avoid mixing with aggressive exotic catfish hybrids.
Security and Safety Measures
Safety measures cover its pectoral spines, which can inflict painful puncture wounds during handling, the need for thorough cooking of freshwater fish, and pond hygiene to ensure product quality.
Historical Context
Hito has long been part of the rural Philippine table, and the expansion of catfish pond culture in recent decades, including exotic hybrid strains, has made the fish ever more available in markets nationwide.
Challenges and Controversies
Challenges include competition from introduced hybrid catfish, pond water quality management, and disease outbreaks in intensive culture.
Related Topic
Filipino Cuisine