Research on Longsnout Catfish (Leiocassis longirostris) Worldwide: Current Status and Future Prospects

Abstract

The longsnout catfish (Leiocassis longirostris) is primarily found in the Yangtze River Basin in China. This species has been studied for more than 40 years, predominantly by researchers at the Fisheries Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Sichuan Fisheries Research Institute), Southwest University, and the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Concurrently, multiple research institutions worldwide have also conducted studies on this species, including Aberystwyth University and the University of Copenhagen in Europe, the University of Hawaii and the University of Prince Edward Island in North America, Korea Maritime and Ocean University and the ICAR National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources in Asia, and the University of Adelaide in Oceania. Most studies on L. longirostris have focused on aquaculture techniques. In this review, we consider all studies on L. longirostris from 1974 to 2023, providing a detailed analysis of the current research status regarding its aquaculture, physiological characteristics, germplasm resources, new variety development, and deep processing. We also speculated on potential future research directions. In summary, this review establishes a solid foundation for future scientific research and aquaculture production of the species, which may promote the further development of new varieties and value-added products derived from L. longirostris.