They are common inexpensive food items, prepared in a variety of ways, being often offered by street vendors, especially barbecued or fried.

[2] The broadhead catfish is identified by its large dorsal fin and its short and rounded occipital process.

[3] The broadhead catfish prefers the Benthopelagic zone and can survive in both brackish and fresh water.

As such, the fish is found in tropical Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Guam, and the Philippines.

[3] Clarias macrocephalus prefers living in marshes, canals, rice fields, stagnant pools and rivers.

[3] The fish, together with other members of the genus Clarias are threatened by man-made activities such as urbanization, habitat fragmentation, and exploitation by the expanding aquaculture business.

The catfish population is also threatened by escaped hybrids born from female C. macrocephalus and male introduced C. gariepinus.