| Amphiarius | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Ariidae |
| Subfamily: | Ariinae |
| Genus: | Amphiarius Marceniuk & Menezes, 2007 |
| Type species | |
| Arius rugispinis Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1840 | |
Amphiarius is a genus of sea catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Ariidae. It includes two species, the Kukwari sea catfish, A. phrygiatus, and the softhead sea catfish, A. rugispinis. [1]
A. phrygiatus and A. rugispinis were both originally described by Achille Valenciennes in 1840 as Arius species, where they have been traditionally placed. They have also been classified in the genus Notarius . Since then, it has been recognized that these two species form a natural, monophyletic grouping and were suggested to represent a new, undescribed genus. The genus Amphiarius was finally erected for these two species in 2007. [1]
Amphiarius species are distributed in marine, brackish and fresh waters of North and eastern South America.
Amphiarius are distinguished from all other ariids by the presence of accessory tooth plates that are small to moderate, roughly round, and laterally located. [1]
Like other ariid catfishes, Amphiarius species are mouthbrooders.
Both species are caught and marketed for human consumption.
The Ariidae or ariid catfish are a family of catfish that mainly live in marine waters with many freshwater and brackish water species. They are found worldwide in tropical to warm temperate zones. The family includes about 143 species.
The Anchariidae are a family of catfishes containing two genera, Ancharius and Gogo with 6 species. Anchariids are a strictly freshwater group endemic to Madagascar. Anchariids are characterized by the presence of fringed barbels and a reduced anterior nuchal plate.
Cathorops is a genus of catfishes in the family Ariidae found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. These species are found in the eastern and western Central and South America in brackish and freshwater habitats. This genus is a strongly supported clade of this family. It consists of a natural group in which the monophyly is well-defined by morphological and molecular evidence and the genus probably includes several unrecognized species from both American coasts.
Pseudacanthicus is a genus of medium to large-sized suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America, where found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as rivers of the Guianas. They are primarily found in fast-flowing waters, sometimes relatively deep. They are sometimes kept in aquariums.
Cinetodus is a genus of sea catfishes of the family Ariidae. These species originate from brackish and fresh waters of Irian Jaya, southern New Guinea and northern Australia.
Aspredinichthys is a genus of banjo catfishes found in fresh and brackish waters in tropical South America from the Orinoco delta, through the Guianas, to the Amazon delta. Both species are found in lower portions of rivers and in coastal waters of northern South America from Venezuela to northern Brazil where they are benthic fish.
Galeichthys is a genus of sea catfishes in the family Ariidae, the only genus in the subfamily Galeichthyinae. It includes four predominantly marine species distributed in Southern Africa and northwestern South America:
Amissidens hainesi, the ridged catfish, is the only species of catfish in the genus Amissidens of the family Ariidae. This species occurs in marine and brackish waters on the southern coast of New Guinea and Northern Australia, between Darwin and southern Gulf of Carpentaria.
Arius is a genus of catfishes of the family Ariidae. The genus Arius is distributed in brackish and fresh waters of Eastern Africa and south to Southeast Asia.
Cryptarius is a genus of catfishes of the family Ariidae. It includes two species, C. daugeti and C. truncatus. Cryptarius species originate from brackish waters of south and southeast Asia.
Batrachocephalus mino, the beardless sea catfish, is the only species of catfish in the genus Batrachocephalus of the family Ariidae. This species occurs in marine and brackish waters of Bay of Bengal, and parts of the western central Pacific, in coastal waters, estuaries, and lower reaches of rivers. It is distributed from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, to Indonesia.
Ketengus typus, the bigmouth sea-catfish, is the only species in the sea catfish genus Ketengus.
Amphiarius phrygiatus, the Kukwari sea catfish, is a species of sea catfish which occurs in brackish estuaries with very low salinities, nearly entering freshwater, and is found on shallow muddy bottoms, ranging through Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil. It grows to about 30 centimetres (12 in) TL. As with other Arriid catfishes this species is a mouthbrooder. The female A. phrygiatus lays her eggs in a gelatinous mass on a sandy depression for the male to collect to mouthbrood. This species is caught for human consumption.
Amphiarius rugispinis, the softhead sea catfish, is a species of sea catfish which is found along the northern coast of South America. It is found chiefly in turbid waters of estuaries and around river mouths; it originates from brackish and marine waters of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil. This species grows to about 45 cm (18 in) TL. Reproduction in A. rugispinis appears to be between September and November. The diameter of the eggs is 14–15 millimetres, numbering about 30–35 per female.
Cryptarius daugueti is a species of sea catfish from the Mekong River basin which inhabits large rivers. It is found in brackish and fresh waters of Cambodia and Vietnam. This species has a maximum length of 26 centimetres (10 in) TL.
Carlarius is a genus of catfishes of the family Ariidae.
Notarius is a genus of fish in the family Ariidae found in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.
Arius manillensis is a species of marine catfish endemic to the island of Luzon, Philippines. It is commonly known as the sea catfish, Manila sea catfish or kanduli. It is fished commercially.
The Couma sea catfish, also known as the Pemecou sea catfish, is a species of catfish in the family Ariidae. It was described by Achille Valenciennes in 1840, originally under the genus Bagrus. It inhabits estuaries and rivers in Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. It reaches a maximum total length of 97 cm (38 in), more commonly reaching a TL of 50 cm (20 in). It reaches a maximum weight of 30 kg (66 lb). Its maximum known life expectancy is 5 years.
The crucifix sea catfish — also known as the Christfish, the crucifix/crucifex catfish, the crucifixfish, or the gillbacker, — is a species of catfish in the family Ariidae.